Note 188 — REV. JAMES HERVEY, M.A., THE LITERARY PARISH-PRIEST. (continued 2)

Hervey’s book became so popular, that, in more instances than one, some parts of it were turned into poetry. The most notable instance was that of Mr. T. Newcomb, M.A., who, in 1757, published “Mr. Hervey’s Contemplations on the Night, done into blank verse, after the manner of Dr. Young.” In 1764, the same gentleman published the whole of the “Meditations and Contemplations,” in the same form. It may be added, that, the demand for the “Meditations and Contemplations” was such, that, in 1764, not fewer than seventeen authorized editions of the work had been published, or about one a year from the time when the work was first printed.