ET. 39.] CONVIVIUM POETICUM-THE POET CRABBE.

333

and the honoured guests who assisted at the Convivium Poeticum were Mr. Rogers and Mr. Moore. Who else were present I have not learnt; but to convert common fare into an Attic feast more guests were not required. From the memoranda, in Campbell's own hand, relating to that day, I make a few extracts:

"One day—and how can it fail to be memorable to me, when Moore has commemorated it ?-Crabbe, Rogers, and Moore, came down to Sydenham, pretty early in the forenoon, and stopped to dine with me. We talked of founding a Poets' Club, and set about electing the members, not by ballot, but vivá voce. The scheme failed-I scarcely know how; but this I know, that a week or two afterwards I met with Mr. Perry, of the 'Morning Chronicle,' who asked me how our Poets' Club was going on. I said 'I don't know. We have some difficulty in giving it a name; we thought of calling ourselves The Bees.' 'Ah,' said Perry, 'that's a little different from the common report; for they say you are to be called The Wasps!' I was so stung with this waspish report, that I thought no more of the Poets' Club.* T. C."

Returning to the pleasant subject, he thus writes to his

sister :

"July 15. How I wish you had been with me on Wednesday last! Crabbe, the venerable old bard, Moore, and Rogers, dined with me! We had a most pleasant day. The sky had lowered and rained till they came, and then the sun shone out. 'You see,' I said to my guests, that Apollo

* Letter addressed to the Rev. G. Crabbe [son of the Poet]. Works, ed. 1834.

Crabbe is absolutely

is aware of our meeting!' delightful-simple as a child, but shrewd, and often goodnaturedly reminding you of the best parts of his poetry. He took his wine cheerfully-far from excess; but his heart really seemed to expand; and he was full of anecdote and social feeling.. We have formed a Poets' Club, in which I hope Scott, Byron, and Miss Baillie will join us, as invited. Crabbe is to be president, and myself secretary. We are to have a meeting at Mr. Rogers's, on Monday, to settle the further election of members. Crabbe, at this time, is about sixty-five, with a very expressive countenance and benignant manner. T. C."

Again" July 17. I could have wished you all to have been about me, a few days ago. I had a quorum of the Poets at Sydenham, and among them the venerable Crabbe. You would like him, I am sure, as I do. He is simple and original."-These extracts may show how much Campbell's mind was engrossed by this delightful topic he reverts to it again and again. "How could he forget" what "Moore has commemorated ?"-We cannot take leave of the subject without a quotation from the lines referred to* :

* Verses to the poet Crabbe's Inkstand. Moore's Works, p. 462. In a note to these verses, it is mentioned that the party was limited to the four poets. + Rogers.

Besides the Ode for the "Kemble Festival," Campbell tells his sister that he had composed several other pieces; but of these one only has been given to the public, namely, "Lines to a Lady, on her sending me a Seal with the Campbell Crest." "I sent them," he says, "to K. M., on her marriage with a nephew of Mr. Windham's; but the Monody on Horner has not proceeded beyond some eighty lines, and is not nearly finished. I have had other little literary jobs *, which have taken up my time, and I am printing still; for, entirely owing to the printer's slowness, I have got over the publishing time; but the printer and I shall have certainly parted in September, and then Mr. Murray may publish whenever he pleases." In another letter he says: "The quotations are from books that cannot be sent to press. I have no amanuensis; and the copying and correcting, after all the other trouble I have had, is still a burthen upon me. I assure you," he adds, with marked emphasis, "none but literary men can conceive what a slave's life it is to get out a book, let it be good, bad, or indifferent."+

In November the nation's hope was suddenly blasted by the death of the Princess Charlotte; and, in the general distress which followed, it was suggested to Campbell that some tribute of sympathy from his pen would be very

* Various articles for the Encyclopædia-Drama, Demosthenes, Dryden. + Extract from a letter to his old schoolfellow, Mr. Ralph Stevenson.

acceptable and soothing to the public. The sudden check given by this calamity to a numerous theatrical corps was severely felt; and the committee being very anxious to re-open their house, as soon as the funeral solemnities were over, Campbell agreed to prepare a Monody for the occasion, and received the following letter:

k

"November 13, 1817.

The

'I sincerely thank you for the kindness and readiness with which you have honoured my note. The whole intention is secret: and, save at head-quarters, is no where known out of our committee-room. object is this: that, our establishment having felt the loss of employment very severely, and in order to relieve them without sacrificing our own feelings, or those of the public-which are in unison with our own-we should devote the rest of the week, after the funeral, to their benefit, with the performance of sacred music. And, having privately consulted the public authorities, it has been not only approved, but applauded; and the intention will be promoted as an object of relief becoming the public aid. But it is not known that there will be a Monody; that the theatre will be in mourning, especially the Royal Boxes; and that, amongst other pieces of music, we shall have a selection of those in Saul,' and, in particular, the Dead March,' by special intimation. I do not think the dress of the Theatre will be known before it opens, as it will be done in the evening or rather night of the Funeral; and every precaution is taken to make the preparations unobserved. You may believe I have great anxiety to behold the intentions of the committee well executed; but my mind is perfectly liberated about the Monody, since I have received the favour of your note. The funeral is fixed for Thursday next; but, my good sir, I pray as early a communication as possible; for although we may put it into the hands of an Angelica to deliver, we must still be anxious about Angelica's memory. P. M."

* "We are all very gloomy, and really disposed to be so, at the theatre; and when we are open it will be, in unison with the public feeling, for the benefit of the great number of performers now asking for relief. Why should I tell you this in particular? Because I wish to have the talents of your friend Mr. Campbell-which I know will come from the heart, to vibrate with the sorrows of our own, on the double loss the public have sustained. . . Pray, pray lose no time, and no interest you can use with Mr. Campbell to favour us; and when it shall be delivered, come and hear it."-Extract of a letter from the Manager to a friend of Campbell's.

ET. 40.]

MONODY ON THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.

337

The result of these preparations more than realised the expectation of the audience, relieved the distress of the performers, and reflected new honour on the Poet, whose heart was in the subject. The lines, though composed at so short a notice, bore the stamp of calm deliberation, and were recited by Mrs. Bartley with great taste and feeling. In a few days they appeared "in every newspaper of the kingdom;" but before they were printed, copies were sent by the author to the Prince Regent and Prince Leopold. "The Prince," he tells Mr. Gray, "like a true gentleman, sent me a very polite and kind acknowledgment on receipt of the Lines. From Carlton House I had no news; but I dare say they were not presented to our worthy Regent." Some additional particulars occur in his correspondence. In his usual unaffected way, when speaking of himself, or his poems, he writes to his sister "Nov. 20.-As I know you take an interest in whatever I write, I send you a copy of verses on the death of our poor Princess. I hardly think them worth mentioning for their poetry; but they sincerely express what a whole kingdom has felt. T. C.”

To these extracts from his letters, a few lines from the poem itself may form an appropriate conclusion; and the apostrophe is eminently beautiful.*