[48] Previous to Cowper’s attempt at suicide, he had fallen into the company of two sophists, who both advanced claims to the right of self-destruction, and whose fallacious arguments won him to their pernicious views, which were, besides, aided by his recollection of a certain book containing similar reasoning, which, however weak in itself, now seemed to his disordered mind irrefragable.
[49] Dr. J. Johnson.
[50] Vide Dr. Conolly.
[51] Wordsworth.
[52] The possunt quia posse videuntur feeling is not sufficiently encouraged by medical philosophers in treating mental affections.
[53] History of Music.
[54] Edinburgh Medical Trans.
[55] Lib. xii. cap. 51.
[56] When Pope was on his death-bed, Bolingbroke observed to the weeping attendants, “I have known Pope these thirty years; he was the kindest-hearted man in the world.”
[57] Prior to the more urgent symptoms developing themselves, he appeared to be endeavouring to recollect Dr. B., and addressed him as Dr. Death.