English Men of Letters: Crabbe

80-

rovided himself with "a fashionable tie-wig". Crabbe at once began preparations for his literary campaign, by correcting such verse as he had brought with him, completing "two dramas and a variety of prose essays," and generally improving himself by a course of study and practice in composition. As in the old Woodbridge days, he made some congenial acquaint

ds William IV., who had only the year before entered the navy as midshipman, but had already seen some service under Rodney. The next day's entry in the diary tells how he was not neglecting other possible chances of an honest livelihood. He had answered an advertisement in the Daily Advertiser for "an amanuensis, of grammatical education, and endued with a genius capable of making improvements in the writings of a gentleman not well versed in the English language." Two days later he called for a reply, only to find that

enclosed poem, which he has returned, as he apprehends the sale of it would probably not enable him to give any con

ket. He adds, however: "I find myself under the disagreeable necessity of vending or pawning some of my more useless articles: accordingly have put into a paper such as cost about two or three guineas, and, being silver, have not greatly lessened in the

o days later he had pawned his surgical instruments-redeemed and repawned his watch on more favourable terms-and was rejoiced to find himself still the possessor of ten shillings. He remained stout of heart-his faith in Providence still his strong comfort--and the Vickery family, though he must have been constantly in their debt, were unfailingly kind and hospitable. He was also appealing to the possible patrons of literature among the leading statesmen of the hour. On May 21 we learn that h

lest with all tha

ch or save a

s engross not

oe assail a p

, but not les

ed win thy n

ccess. Crabbe felt these successive repulses very keenly, but it is not necessary to tax North, Shelburne, and Thurlow with exceptional hardness of heart. London was as full of needy literary

iculars. He was himself an eye-witness of some of the most disgraceful excesses of the mob, the burning of the governor of Newgate's house, and the setting at liberty of the prison

was not felicitous. The publisher, "H. Payne, opposite Marlborough House, Pall Mall," had pledged himself that the author should receive some share of the profits, however small; but even if he had not become bankrupt immediately after its publication, it is unlikely that Crabbe would have profited by a single penny. It was indeed a very ill-advised attempt, even as regards the reviewers addressed. The very tone adopted, that of deprecation of criticism, would be in their view a proof of weakness, and as such they accepted it. Nor had the poem any better chan

. The poet relates how the Genius of Poetry (like, but how unlike, her who was seen b

ager in the a

triumph seldom

l, but wisely

abours one by

crap capriciou

y, and be pr

in the rubbi

little as a n

, that cloyed wi

, that ran on i

ays-Fortune F

im inclines b

it, nor with i

d, but none shal

ress is the h

ver with succ

win must ever

ode, and to t

rave to every

e lucky Mome

more his eager

t and Love, whe

some one who should strike into a newer path. The strong and powerful satirist Churchill, the classic Gray, and the inimitable Goldsmith had also departed; and more recently still, Chatterton had paid the bitter penalty of his imprudence under circumstances which must surely have rather disposed the patrons of talent to watch the next opportunity that might offer it

y instructor) he was trying experiments in more hopeful directions. On the twelfth, of May he intimates to his Mira that he has dreams of success in something different, something more human than had yet engaged his thoughts. "For the first time in my life that I recollect," he writes, "I have written three or four stanzas that so far touched me in the reading them as to take off th

uring many months when he was toiling in early life in London he hardly over tasted butcher-meat except on a Sunday, when he dined usually with a tradesman's family, and thought their leg of mutton, baked in the pan, the perfection of luxury." And it was only after some more weary months, when at last "want stared him in the face, and a gaol seemed the only imme

erable) that Crabbe addressed his letter, with specimens of his poetry, to Bur

le that I need ev

freedom I now take

ly urged, will, wit

don. I am one of th

out a friend, with

out

preface. I had a

ducation than his

better than was ne

I was designed fo

ng wherewithal to co

but served to conv

error it had occasi

three pounds, and

to supply me with th

ities should procure

ion, and a poetical

little of the worl

fancied perfection

they promised me a

putation, whilst my

cont

, and want have s

that which I think

such, have yet th

e common run of poe

ge of the late Mr.

consequence of which

cribe my little w

ll political allusio

ial point to me to w

it none to him, and

y re

ubscription would be

, therefore, endea

he enclosed

disgust you with this

ished in the miser

hat during this tim

could afford. Indeed

avoided it. The

usiness has had eve

rceive my situation

ut friends. About

note for seven pound

hat sum which I ow

y friends are poor

, and I ventured t

begged to be credi

ubscribers, which I b

this letter I had

by my importunity.

, I yesterday confes

entreaty and as t

when I am positive

y or prepare

purpose of so long

as a good and, let

tensions to your fa

is not easy to supp

am coward enough

n you, sir, in any

ask any demonstrat

n myself, but I ha

me, if possible, inte

rank and fortune

and are compelled to

ey know to be in dist

e I ventured to so

ve me, sir, if you

mpossible that sent

but a humane an

u, sir, to-morrow, a

credit with you, I m

in to myself, and ev

d in my distresses.

iness, now embitte

only to hope a spe

n: in which (thoug

p some consolation fr

ith, the greatest r

humble

E CRA

rabbe delivered it with his own hands at Burke's house in Charles Street, St. James's, and (as he l

Crabbe's story that could hardly be delusive, and a strain of modesty blended with courage that would at once appeal to Burke's generous nature. Again, Burke was not a poet (save in the glowing periods of his prose), but he had read widely in the poets, and had himself been possessed at one stage of his youth "with the furor poeticus." At this special juncture he had indeed little leisure for such matters. He had lost his seat for Bristol in the preceding year, but had speedily found another at Malton-a pocket-borough of Lord Rockingham's,-and, at the moment of Crabbe's appeal, was again actively opposing the policy of the King and Lord North. But he yet found time for an act of kindness that was to have no inconsi

ghbouring beach

vouring winds t

flight the ready

he favouring

hores where guilt

hapless they w

ain to hear t

essening shore; Till some fierc

w hut and all

enant weeps fr

r protection f

of a very different school was dominant. But here for the moment appears a fresher key and a later model. In the lines just quoted the feeling and the

e, whom hounds

ce from which it

there was something in Crabbe's more Pope-like couplets that was not foun

amily whom it was honour as well as pleasure to become in any degree associated with." The time thus spent was profitable to Crabbe in other ways than by enlarging his knowledge and ideas, and laying the foundation of many valued friendships. He devoted himself in earnest to complete his unfinished poems and revise others under Burke's judicious criticism. The poem he first published, The Library, he himself tells us, was written partly in his presence and submitted as a whole to his judgment. Crabbe elsewhere indicates clearly what were the weak points of his art, and what tendencies Burke found it most necessary he should counteract. Writing his reminiscences in the third person years later, he naively admitted that "Mr. Crabbe had sometimes the satisfaction of hearing, when the verses were

from the same hand. But circumstances were now changed, and Burke's recommendation and support were all-sufficient. Dodsley was all politeness, and though he declined to incur any risk-this was doubtless borne by Burke-he promised his best en

ns of theology, history, poetry, and the rest, as represented on the shelves of a library, and on the blessings of literature to the heart when wearied with business and the cares of life. Crabbe's verses on such topics are by no means ineffective. He had caught perfectly the trick of the school so soon to pass away. He is as fluent and copious-as skilful in spreading a truism over a dozen well-sounding lines-as any of his predecessors. There is little new in the way of ideas. Crabbe had as yet no wide insight into books and authors, and he was forced to deal largely in g

ng the dead

more novel than Crabbe's, are wor

nd these silent

lasting mansio

hinks a thousan

tombs of such

ternal fame, t

ll the little