[53] This once-celebrated abode of the poet is situated at Hales-Owen,
Shropshire.
[54] This we learn from Dr. Nash's History of Worcestershire.
[55] While at college he printed, without his name, a small volume
of verses, with this title, "Poems upon various Occasions, written
for the Entertainment of the Author, and printed for the Amusement
of a few Friends, prejudiced in his Favour." Oxford, 1737.
12mo.--Nash's "History of Worcestershire," vol. i. p. 528.
I find this notice of it in W. Lowndes's Catalogue; 4433 Shenstone
(W.) Poems, 3_l._ 13_s._ 6_d._--(Shenstone took uncommon pains to
suppress this book, by collecting and destroying copies wherever he
met with them.)--In, Longman's Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, it is
valued at 15_l. Oxf_. 1737. Mr. Harris informs me, that about the
year 1770, Fletcher, the bookseller, at Oxford, had many copies of
this first edition, which he sold at _Eighteen pence_ each. These
prices are amusing! The prices of books are connected with their
history.
[56] On this subject Graves makes a very useful observation. "In
this decision the happiness of Mr. Shenstone was materially
concerned. Whether he determined wisely or not, people of taste and
people of worldly prudence will probably be of very different
opinions. I somewhat suspect, that 'people of worldly prudence' are
not half the fools that 'people of taste' insist they are."
[57] Shenstone's farm was surrounded by winding walks, decorated
with vases and statues, varied by wood and water, and occasionally
embracing fine views over Frankley and Clent Hills, and the country
about Cradley, Dudley, Rawley, and the intermediate places. Some of
his vases were inscribed to the memory of relatives and friends. One
had a Latin inscription to his cousin Maria, another was dedicated
to Somerville his poet-friend. In different parts of his domain he
constructed buildings at once useful and ornamental, destined to
serve farm-purposes, but to be also grateful to the eye. A Chinese
bridge led to a temple beside a lake, and near was a seat inscribed
with the popular Shropshire toast to "all friends round the Wrekin,"
the spot commanding a distant view of the hill so named. A wild path
through a small wood led to an ingeniously constructed root-house,
beside which a rivulet ran which helped to form the lake already
mentioned; on its banks was a dedicatory urn to the _Genio Loci_.
The general effect of the whole place was highly praised in the
poet's time. It was neglected at his death; and its description is
now but a record of the past.
[58] Wheatley, on "Modern Gardening," p. 172. Edition 5th.
[59] In "Hull's Collection," vol. ii. letter ii.
[60] Graves was supposed to have glanced at his friend Shenstone in
his novel of "_Columella_; or, the Distressed Anchoret." The aim of
this work is to convey all the moral instruction I could wish to
offer here to youthful genius. It is written to show the consequence
of a person of education and talents retiring to solitude and
indolence in the vigour of youth. Nichols's "Literary Anecdotes,"
vol. iii. p. 134. Nash's "History of Worcestershire," vol. i. p.
528.
[61] See his "Letters" xl. and xli., and more particularly xlii. and
xliii., with a new theory of political principles.