Memorials of Robert Stephen Hawker Author:Frederick George Lee General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1876 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER II. LITERARY LABOURS. Though Mr. Hawker may be chiefly recognized and celebrated in the future as a lyrical poet, yet those who knew him intimately, knew that he was likewise a very deeply-read and exact theologian, as well as an excellent preacher, and a devoted parish Priest. Some detailed account of his literary works shall now be put on record. His earliest volume, published at Plymouth in 1825, was entitled " Poetical First Buds. By Reuben." It seems to be both out of print and rare. In the opinion of several competent critics, it gave undoubted promise of future ability. When it was published, Mr. Hawker was an undergraduate at Pembroke College, where amongst the Scholars he had for his friend, Francis Jeune, eventually Bishop of Peterborough. At Magdalene Hall one of his chief allies was William Jacobson, the present Bishop of Chester. This slight juvenile volume was followed by his Newdigate Prize Poem " Pompeii," printed in 1827,1 and re-issued again nine years later, in 1836. It is a well-conceived and carefully written production, displaying thought, research, and poetical culture. It was remarked at the time of its recital that parts of it were very like Mr. T. B. Macaulay's Cambridge Prize Poem on the same theme: but any one who cares to study and critically compare the two, while giving all credit to the brilliant literary ability and obvious art of Macaulay, will, for poetical power and picturesque beauty, award the palm to that better sus- 1 "Pompeii," recited Jime 27, 1827, republished by J. Roberts, of Stratton, in 1836. Dedication -- "To Arthur Kelly, Esquire of Kelly, S...« less