The Rev. R. Potter’s chief poem is “A Farewell Hymn to the Country, Attempted in the Manner of Spenser’s Epithalamion” (1749). The poem shows much sympathetic knowledge of some parts of Nature, especially of birds and trees. He speaks of the quail that “runnes piping o’er the land,” of the “mavis-haunted grove,” and of the nightingale that delights “the stillness of the night.” He declares that his entire orchard, plums, pears, grapes, permains, and all, is at the service of these, his “fellow-poets.” At evening The slumb’ring trees seem their tall tops to bow Rocking the careless birds that on them nest To gentle, gentle rest. He does not often refer to specific trees, but he gives little suggestive pictures as of “the uncertain shaded grove,” or the doubtfull shade By quivering branches made, or of delightful resting places roofed with “inwoven branches.” The stream for which he cared most was “the gentle Tave” in Norfolk. He mentions many flowers, but in no new or finely descriptive manner. His sensitiveness to perfumes we may see in such lines as, Sweet is the breath of heaven with day-spring born, Where the fresh hay-cock breathes along the mead, or in such phrases as “this flowre-perfumed aire.” The poem is rich in color, as in the descriptions of sunrise, and of various kinds of fruit. Though it would be difficult to quote specific lines to prove the statement, it is nevertheless true that the whole poem conveys in a quite unusual degree a sense of warm, abiding affection for the simple scenes of the country. “Smit with the peaceful joys of lowly life,” he gives thanks for “the unmoved quiet of his silver daies,” and thinks with dread of “the cares and pains in mad cities.” His use of Nature is almost entirely in a running assemblage of sweet sights and sounds to justify his preference for country life. Another of the minor poets of this period is Dr. John Dalton. In 1755 he wrote a “Descriptive Poem,” inscribed to “Two Ladies, the Daughters of Lord Lonsdale.” It is long, rambling, tedious, but it is of historical importance as being probably the first poetical tribute to the beauty of Westmoreland and Cumberland. Then change the scene: to Nature’s pride, Sweet Keswick’s vale, the Muse will guide. The Muse, who trod th’ enchanted ground, Who sail’d the wonderous lake around, With you will haste once more to hail The beauteous brook of Borrodale. He speaks of the streams that rejoice to roar Down the rough rocks of dread Lodore, and says that Horrors like these at first alarm, But soon with savage grandeur charm, And raise to noblest thoughts your mind. Thus by thy fall, Lodore, reclin’d, The cragged cliff, inpendent wood, Whose shadows mix o’er half the flood, The gloomy clouds, which solemn sail, Scarce lifted by the languid gale O’er the cap’d hill and darken’d vale