Hayley-XXI-11

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Monday June 25
1792

My dear Eliza

It is indeed my opinion, that a quickness, in declaring it, adds to the favor of any kind concession, for which a tender spirit is waiting with anxiety — I am therefore particularly obliged by the celerity, with which you impart to me your kind & generous determination to comply with my request. — As I approve dispatch in acknowledging no less than in conferring an Obligation, I should have return’d you my Thanks by the post of yesterday, had not an accident prevented the arrival of your Letter \here,/ on the day it arrived at Chichester.

I now thank you speedily for the relief you have thus afforded to my Mind; & I thank you sincerely, in spite of the little tartness of Expression, with which you seem to

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reproach me for “having driven you from your old friends, & the southern Coast this Summer”.

The little acrimonious spirit of a few angry Words evaporates, & is soon forgiven & forgot; but the solid merit of just & generous conduct rests & is (as it ought to be) tenderly & gratefully remember’d—

At present you think my late requisition harsh, imperious, & severe; but Time & Reflexion will shew it to your Mind in a very different point of View.—For in Truth, instead of barbarously driving you from any real Enjoyments, I have only persuaded you (as tenderly as I could) to relinquish a project, which must have griev’d yrself in the End, because it must have been painful & injurious to me, Whom, even in an angry Moment, you would, I am persuaded, be truly sorry either to injure or afflict – the more so, as ill Health & ill Luck have, for a considerable time, loaded me with as many afflictions, & more, than a good natur’d being would wish even an Ennemy [sic]

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to sustain — if you think me unreasonable in what I require, I am the more oblig’d to you for granting a request, the propriety & Justice of which you have not yet discern’d —

As you think the Coast of Lincolnshire more Eligible for you than Scarborough, I hope you may find upon it such an obscure & commodious bathing place, as you wish for this Summer - as to the next, I think it by no means improbable that I may, by that Time, rest so peacably [sic] under the Earth, that I shall not be able either kindly or unkindly to obstruct or direct your movements upon it — While I remain above Ground, it will be my Wish & my Endeavour to soothe and tranquillise your Spirits by the Intercourse of kind Letters, & to furnish such little recruits to your slender Revenue, as Fortune (if she will but smile on me a little after all her Frowns) may enable me to supply.—adieu.- God bless & direct you in all things for the best & as I think He has graciously done in your recent determination.— The dear Boy is well & joins in every kind wish to you with

Yr affectionate
H

I had not heard of Mrs Beridges death - She is indeed as you observe a severe Loss to Mrs Gladwin—adieu—How do you like Mr Twigge? I wish He had a name less ludicrous

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To

M^rs Hayley
Derby