The International Monthly Magazine | Page 7

cause of private honor and friendship lost its highest glory,
public liberty its most undaunted champion, and general humanity its
most active and ardent assertor. In him was united the most amiable
disposition with the most firm and resolute spirit; the mildest manners,
with the most exalted mind. With regard to that great man it might,
indeed, be well said, that in him the bravest heart and most exalted
mind sat upon the seat of gentleness."
[Illustration: COWLEY'S SEAT.]
COWLEY'S SEAT.
[Illustration: COWLEY'S HOUSE--STREET FRONT.]
COWLEY'S HOUSE--STREET FRONT.
There is, at all events, an imaginary pleasure in turning from the

wearing out turmoil of a statesman's life, to what the world believes the
tranquil dreams of a poet's existence. But there are few things the
worldling so little understands as literary industry, or so little
sympathizes with as literary care. We have no inclination to over-rate
either its toils or its pleasures, and perhaps no life is more abundantly
supplied with both. Its toils must be evident to any who have noted the
increasing literary labor which is necessary to produce the ordinary
sources of comforts; but its high and holy enjoyments are not so
apparent; they are so different from those of almost all others as not to
be easily explained or understood; but above all other gifts, the
marvellous gift of poesy is a distinction conferred by the Almighty, and
should be acknowledged and treasured as such. We know little of a
poet's studies except by their imperishable produce, and it is a common
but ill-founded prejudice to imagine regularity or diligence
incompatible with high genius. Genius is neither above law, nor
opposed to it; but as many have a poetic taste and temperament without
the inspiration, the world is apt to mistake the eccentricity of the
pretender for the outward and visible sign of genius. Whether or not the
poet of the Porch-house of Chertsey had the actual poetic fire we do not
venture to determine. Abraham Cowley takes a prominent position,
amongst the poets of our land, and the eventful times in which he lived,
and his participation in their tumults give him additional interest in all
the relations of his anxious and not over-happy life. It is recorded of
him that he became a poet in consequence of reading the Faery Queene,
which chance threw in his way while yet a child. In allusion to this, Dr.
Johnson gave his well-known definition of genius: "A mind of large
general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction."
We had almost dared to say this is rather the definition of a philosopher
than of one who comprehended the spirituality of a marvellous gift.
Abraham Cowley--the posthumous son of a London grocer--owed
much to his mother. She, by her exertions, procured him a classical
education at Westminster School. She lived to see him loved, honored,
and great, and what was better still, and more uncommon, grateful. At
the age of fifteen he published a volume called "Poetic Blossoms,"
which he afterwards described as "commendable extravagancies in a
boy." He obtained a scholarship in Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1686,
and there took his degree; but was ejected by the Parliament, and

thence removed to Oxford. Shortly after, he followed the Queen
Henrietta to Paris, as Secretary to the Earl of St. Albans, and was
employed in the court of the exiles in the most confidential capacity. In
1656 he returned to England, and was immediately arrested as a
suspected spy. He submitted quietly--the royalists thought too
quietly--to the dominion of the Protector, but his whole life proved that
he was no traitor. At the Restoration, that great national disappointment,
his claims upon the ungrateful monarch were met by a taunt and a false
insinuation--he was told that his pardon was his reward! Wood said,
"he lost the place by certain enemies of the Muses;" certain "friends of
the Muses," however, procured for him the lease of the Porch-house
and farm at Chertsey, held under the Queen, and the great desire of his
life--solitude--was obtained.
[Illustration: COWLEY'S HOUSE--GARDEN FRONT.]
COWLEY'S HOUSE--GARDEN FRONT.
The place still seems a meet dwelling for a poet, and is, perhaps, even
more attractive to strangers than St. Anne's hill. The porch, which
caused his residence to be called "The Porch-house," was taken down
during the last century by the father of its present proprietor, the Rev.
John Crosby Clarke, and the house is now known as "Cowley
House."(1) It is situated near the bridge which crosses a narrow and
rapid stream, in a lonely part of Guildford Street; a latticed window
which overhangs the road is the window of the room in which the poet
expired; on the outside wall Mr. Clarke has recorded his reason for
removing the porch. "The porch of this house, which projected