Hayley-XXI-13

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Sunday July 29 1792

My dear Eliza

Your Summer I hope, in the North, is not rendered so unseasonable for Travellers by incessant Rain, as it seems to be in this part of the World. - it will give me great Satisfaction to hear that the Sky smiles upon you in Staffordshire & that all things conspire to make your expedition as much a jaunt of pleasure, as a Journey of Health

My visit to the enchanting Poet of Buckinghamshire was indeed interesting in no common degree, & I will endeavour to give you a little History of such circumstances relating to it, as may appear to me most striking — Hermits as we both are, by Habit & Inclination, there was little probability, that we should ever meet; but a little Incident having induced me to write to Him, we became gradually attached to each other by our Letters:

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I solicited my engaging Correspondent to ramble to my hermitage. — He replied that he was a more stationary Hermit than I am, as He had not moved from home in the last 20 years; & having seen his sixtieth Birthday, He thought it hardly possible for him to quit his own quiet Abode to which He invited me with such tender Cordiality, that I was unable to resist the Invitation - Now indeed I see the beneficent Hand of Providence in this extraordinary Visit; & consider myself as sent to Him by Heaven, to prove an humble, but willing Instrument in saving his exquisitely feeling Spirit from being overwhelmed by an impending Calamity.

This is mysterious: but I will instantly give you a simple Explanation of the Mystery — Just as I had passed a week under his Roof, & had happily rendered myself very dear to my poetical Brother, & the very interesting old Lady, who for near thirty years has watched, like a

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Guardian Angel, the Health & Genius of my admirable Friend, this excellent woman was deprived of half her Existence by a paralytic Stroke — never was domestic distress more severe – I was afraid it must overwhelm the Spirit & the Reason of the tender afflicted Poet; & had I not been with Him, He kindly says, it would have utterly crushed Him –

Heaven blest me on the Occasion with great presence of Mind – I not only comforted my Friend; but was medically useful to the dear Sufferer in no trifling degree — I fortunately discovered an electrical Apparatus in the Village, which, tho incomplete & disused, I soon got into order, & played the salutary Fire upon the injured Limbs with such success, that before I left the House I had the inexpressible delight of restoring our dear Lady to a little use of the Limbs she had lost — I procured the best advice, as to Medecine [sic] &c, from my Friend dr Austin, my favourite physician in London! & thus became, as I said before, an humble Instrument in the blessed work of restoring both the enchanting Poet & his venerable Muse – My sensations on this very wonderful & happy Event you will more easily conceive than I can describe —– Cowpers Letters to me since my

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Return continue to assure me that our dear Patient advances, tho slowly, in the acquisition of strength & I have even hopes of seeing them both under my roof before the summer passes away –

To

M^rs Hayley
at Thomas Hatrell's Esqr
Newcastle

Staffordshire

The medical part of my travelling History has almost exhausted my paper; I must therefore reserve what I meant to say of my dear Brother Bard for my next Letter – adieu - I expect much pleasure from a chearful [sic] account of yr journey – Heaven bless you - Tom joins in this Benediction & in every kind wish to you with yr affectionate H