Hayley-XXI-14

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Sunday
august 12
1792

My dear Eliza

I am glad to hear your Journey proved so agreable [sic] & that you had the good Fortune to meet the ingenious Master of Etruria at Home & yr other Friends on the road in good Health & spirits — I hope you will find both the internal & exterior effects of the Water as salutary as you wish – I long to have a plunge in the cool morning Sea this hot Weather but I have hitherto contented myself with a Bason [sic] of salt Water in my Hermitage where I am at present surrounded by very interesting Guests – my dear Brother Bard of Buckinghamshire has

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accomplished his kind Idea & after being rooted to his own Cell for 20 years He has made a marvellous effort that has astonished all his acquaintance & conducted his venerable Muse to thank her Physician under his own Roof -

I had indeed very striking Success by the aid of Heaven in restoring the lost Limbs of this extraordinary patient – & a Lady who has watched over the irregular Health of such a Poet as Cowper for near thirty years & preserved his Life in seasons of the most calamitous mental depression deserves indeed all possible regard & Honor [sic] from every poetical Mind –

She is still in such a State that we use electrical fire to give Energy

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to her weak Limbs every day & there is something at times so ghastly in her Countenance that I should not be surprized if a third paralytic Stroke put a sudden period to her Life – yet it is pleasing to see that she has some little enjoyment of even the dregs of Life & my great Object in regard to my Guests is to prepare as far as I can the tender feeling Spirit of this Enchanting poet to bear his Impending Loss of an invaluable Friend to whom perhaps he is more indebted than ever one human Creature was before to another – The beloved Painter arrived last night from London from whence He was driven He says by the most intolerable Heat He ever endured – it has shaken his nerves a little but we hope to restore them — to accommodate my guests I passed the night on the Sopha in my Library & slept so little that I write with an addled Head – the dear

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Boy is well & joins in every kind wish to you with yr affectionate H –

To

Mrs Hayley
at the assembly Room
Park Gate

near Chester