COWPER, WILLIAM.--The History of John Gilpin, How he went farther than he intended, and came Home safe at last. [woodcut] London: Printed for J. Fielding Pater-noster-Row (Price Three-pence.) [1785]. _Small 8vo, red levant morocco, Janseniste, gilt edges, by Rivière._
COWPER, WILLIAM.--The diverting history of John Gilpin: showing how he went farther than he intended, and came safe home again. With six illustrations by George Cruikshank, Engraved on Wood by Thompson, Branston, Wright, Slader, and White. London: Charles Tilt . . . MDCCCXXVIII. _Square 12mo, calf, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, with the original covers bound in, by Rivière._
COWPER, WILLIAM.--The Task, a poem, in six books. By William Cowper, . . . To which are added, by the same author, An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq: Tirocinium, or a Review of Schools, and the History of John Gilpin. London: printed for J. Johnson, . . . 1785. _8vo, green levant morocco, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by Bedford._
First edition of the "Task," and the first appearance of "John Gilpin" among Cowper's Works.
In a letter subsequent to April 22, 1785, Cowper wrote to Mr. Newton: "When I sent the copy of the _Task_ to Johnson [his publisher], I desired, indeed, Mr. Unwin to ask him the question, whether or not he would choose to make it a part of the volume? This I did merely with a view to promote the sale of it. Johnson answered, 'By all means.' Some months afterward, he enclosed a note to me in one of my packets, in which he expressed a change of mind, alleging, that to print John Gilpin would only be to print what had been hackneyed in every magazine, in every shop, and at the corner of every street. I answered, that I desired to be entirely governed by his opinion; and that if he chose to waive it, I should be better pleased with the omission. Nothing more passed between us upon the subject, and I concluded that I should never have the immortal honour of being generally known as the author of John Gilpin. In the last packet, however, down came John, very fairly printed, and equipped for public appearance. The business having taken this turn, I concluded that Johnson had adopted my original thought, that it might prove advantageous to the sale; and as he had had the trouble and expense of printing it, I corrected the copy, and let it pass."--Southey's Life of Cowper, Volume II, pages 86-87.