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 THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 201

pressed himself desirous of joining his numerous departed friends, and of being with his Saviour in heaven. Mr. Shrubsole had married Margaret Cook, the daughter of his worthy master and mistress at Sheerness, in October, 1757. He had four children, two of whom, with his widow, survived him. His ministerial services, which were both laborious and useful, were entirely gratuitous. AVhile fulfilling his ministry, he maintained himself and his family by his salary in the dockyard.

Mr. Shrubsole was the author of several series of letters, which appeared in periodicals on the great religious controversies of his day, and of some pamphlets on the same subjects. He also wrote some lectures on edifying subjects in Scripture history, for distri bution by the late benevolent John Thornton, Esq., of Clapham ; and to assist his companions in their effort to get increased pay, he wrote an able pamphlet entitled, &quot;A plea in favour of the Shipwrights belonging to the Royal Dockyard,&quot; 1770. He was also the author of &quot; The plain Christian Shepherd s Defence of his Flock, being Five Letters in support of Infant Baptism,&quot; 1794.

WILLIAM COWPER.

17311800.

WILLIAM COWPER was the son of Dr. John Cowper, who was chaplain to George II., and rector of Berkhampstead, Hert fordshire, where the poet was born, on the 15th November, 1731. He was also cousin to Martin Madan, compiler of &quot; Madan s Collection ; &quot; and his grandfather was a judge, and brother of the first Earl Cowper, the Lord Chancellor. At six years of age, Cowper experienced one of the greatest losses possible to any child, but inexpressibly great to him, in being deprived of a fond and faithful mother. Dear to every filial heart are the pathetic verses he wrote on receiving her portrait many years after her death. As a child, Cowper had delicate health, and suffered from a complaint in his eyes. But at nine years of age he was thought strong enough to be sent to a public

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