But though we cannot concede these hymns to Marvell, he must not be underrated. His downright honesty of character and purpose must ever excite respect. His biographer strangely introduces him to us as "A witty droll in the seventeenth century, the son of a facetious gentleman at Hull." In one respect he resembled our gifted essayist; his style in prose was so captivating that we are told
"From the King down to the Tradesman, his Rehearsal Transposed was read with great pleasure; he had all the men of wit on his side."
To return to the hymns and the just claims of Addison to the whole of them.
In the Spectator, No. 453., Addison says,
"I have already communicated to the public some pieces of divine poetry, and as they have met with a very favourable reception, I shall from time to time publish any work of the same nature which has not yet appeared in print, and may be acceptable to my readers."
Then follows the hymn "When all Thy Mercies," &c. Coming from such a man as Addison, this
must be considered as pretty strong evidence of authorship.
In the Spectator, No. 441., when introducing the hymn "The Lord my Pasture," &c., Addison observes—
"As the poetry of the original is very exquisite, I shall present my readers with the following translation of it."
With respect to this composition Bishop Hurd remarks, that Addison's