William Cowper and the Friends in England and America: Part II. In America

Upon turning our attention to American Quakerism, we are fortunate in finding at once a point of contact between Philadelphia and the Poet himself. We recall that the first American edition of 1787 was printed at Philadelphia, the Quaker stronghold on this continent. In the Devonshire House Library there is a rare printed pamphlet—unique so far as I can learn—purporting to be printed at Chester in 1800. It is practically certain that it was printed at Chester, Pennsylvania, and that the city referred to in the text is Philadelphia. If this assumption is correct, then we have a curious piece of evidence regarding the popularity of Cowper in Philadelphia before 1800. This pamphlet is called Copy of a letter written from a young man, a Quaker, in Penna., to the late William Cowper, the Poet. The letter itself is not dated, and its appearance in print was doubtless due to the interest aroused by the Poet's recent death. After introducing himself as one who once with fair hopes has met with affliction and disappointment, the writer continues in this remarkable vein :