Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/143

 NOTES BY THE WAY. 73

In the Eighth Series only the following references occur : the story of ' The Castaway,' iii. 107, 153 ; first publication of ' John Gilpin,' 363 ; portrait of Cowper's mother, v. 207 ; and an inquiry concerning a letter from Cowper regarding Newton's comments on a Handelian oratorio.

Mr. Clement Shorter, in The Sphere, of the 15th of August, 1908, tells of a recent visit he paid to Olney. The Cowper house and garden are under the care of the father of Mr. Thomas Wright, who edited the standard edition of Cowper's letters: "The garden was a far larger one in Cowper's day, and the summer- house which is so pleasantly associated with his story stands in another garden, but is nevertheless made accessible to visitors. At the end of the garden has now been placed the pew that was occupied by Cowper in Olney Church." Mr. Shorter regrets, as all must, that "the gift of the late Mr. Collingridge of Cowper's house has not carried with it a sufficient fund for keeping up the place as a perpetual memorial of a great poet. There is at present an endowment of 181. per annum, but 2.000Z. is wanted for an adequate endowment."

�� �