When Cowper became an author he paid the highest respect to Mrs. Unwin as an instinctive critic, and called her his Lord Chamberlain, whose approbation was his sufficient licence for publication.

Life in the Unwin family is thus described by the new inmate;—­“As to amusements, I mean what the world calls such, we have none.  The place indeed swarms with them; and cards and dancing are the professed business of almost all the gentle inhabitants of Huntingdon.  We refuse to take part in them, or to be accessories to this way of murdering our time, and by so doing have acquired the name of Methodists.  Having told you how we do not spend our time, I will next say how we do.  We breakfast commonly between eight and nine; till eleven, we read either the scripture, or the sermons of some faithful preacher of those holy mysteries; at eleven we attend divine service, which is performed here twice every day, and from twelve to three we separate, and amuse ourselves as we please.  During that interval, I either read in my own apartment, or walk or ride, or work in the garden.  We seldom sit an hour after dinner, but, if the weather permits, adjourn to the garden, where, with Mrs. Unwin and her son, I have generally the pleasure of religious conversation till tea-time.  If it rains, or is too windy for walking, we either converse within doors or sing some hymns of Martin’s collection, and by the help of Mrs. Unwin’s harpsichord, make up a tolerable concert, in which our hearts, I hope are the best performers.  After tea we sally forth to walk in good earnest.  Mrs. Unwin is a good walker, and we have generally travelled about four miles before we see home again.  When the days are short we make this excursion in the former part of the day, between church-time and dinner.  At night we read and converse as before till supper, and commonly finish the evening either with hymns or a sermon, and last of all the family are called to prayers.  I need not tell you that such a life as this is consistent with the utmost cheerfulness, accordingly we are all happy, and dwell together in unity as brethren.”

Mrs. Cowper, the wife of Major (now Colonel) Cowper, to whom this was written, was herself strongly Evangelical; Cowper had, in fact, unfortunately for him, turned from his other relations and friends to her on that account.  She, therefore, would have no difficulty in thinking that such a life was consistent with cheerfulness, but ordinary readers will ask how it could fail to bring on another fit of hypochondria.  The answer is probably to be found in the last words of the passage.  Overstrained and ascetic piety found an antidote in affection.  The Unwins were Puritans and enthusiasts, but their household was a picture of domestic love.