The Life of William Roscoe
Chapter X. 1808
James Grahame to William Roscoe, [May? 1808]
“The pleasure which I received,” says Mr. James Grahame, the author of the beautiful
poem of “The
Sabbath,” “from the reperusal of your Considerations on the causes, objects, and
consequences of the present war, was alloyed ![]()
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with some portion of disappointment. The fifth edition is, I see, before the
public; and yet the war-whoop is as loud as ever, and was as loud, before the
dawn of the Spanish revolution had opened a new prospect to our view. That your
impressive, your unanswerable arguments must have sunk deep into the minds of
thousands, there can be no doubt; but on the mass of this people I fear that no
impression can be made through the medium of their reason. They have ears, but
they hear not. They exhibit an instance of that obduracy in folly and in pride
which so frequently precedes the downfall of nations. The preface to the
remarks had quite an exhilarating effect. Your observations on national ethics
are most excellent in themselves, and they are well calculated to impress the
two great divisions of mankind, the generous and the selfish. I was
particularly struck, and indeed solaced, by a fine passage, of which the
following words are a part:—‘God has not abandoned his
creatures,’ &c. I thank you most heartily for the present. I
prized the ‘Considerations’ very high
before they had acquired the additional value which, as coming from yourself,
they now possess. I feel, indeed, much honoured by such a gift, and much
gratified by the expressions which accompany it To be acknowledged by you as no
unworthy ally in the cause of justice and humanity is truly most pleasing.
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LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. |
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“The Spanish revolution has undoubtedly produced a
conjuncture to which some of your arguments will not apply; yet the general
strain of your reasoning will suit all times of warfare; for every war, even
this of Spanish freedom against French despotism, ought to be waged (so far I
mean as the directing councils are concerned) in the spirit of peace. I own I
am sanguine with regard to Spain. I would like to know your opinion.”
James Grahame (1765-1811)
Scottish poet; author of the oft-reprinted blank-verse poem,
The
Sabbath (1804). He corresponded with Annabella Milbanke.
