Hayley-XXI-17

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Sunday
Sept 23

Yes my dear Eliza I really entertain sanguine Hopes concerning the final Establishment of French Liberty – but it is you know my Nature to hope when others are ready to despair – even the high-spirited democratic Novelist begins I find by a Letter I have just received from her to feel her hopes on this interesting point greatly depressed by the sight of the poor melancholy Exiles who land in great Numbers on our Coast & give in truth a most woeful Account of French affairs but in all convulsive Struggles for Power there are grievous Evils to be Suffered & generally much Falshood [sic] & Guilt on both Sides – but in my Estimation all Evils are better than a return of irritated & vindictive despotism – the Conspiracy of

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regal Invaders & Ruffians against France is in my opinion one of those enormous & absurd Iniquities that must ultimately punish itself – if the Mass of people in that gallant by too volatile Nation remain as unanimous as they seem to be at present they may laugh to Scorn [?] a Conspiracy of all the Kings on the Globe — You see I am as zealous & sanguine a Friend to Freedom as ever in spite of the the horrid Excesses that have lately dishonoured some of its Gallic Partizans

but there is Enough on foreign Matters – let me now inform you that we have lost our interesting Guests & you will easily believe that their departure left a very heavy Gloom on our Spirits – to

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bid adieu to a little Group of Friends after a long social visit is you know as tragical an Incident to my Feelings as it is to the tender Miss Willis of Bowbridge — to avoid the pain of saying Adieu under our own roof I & the two Boys marched thro a heavy rain into the North Wood & waited there to give our last Salutation to the two Carriages that conveyed away our very affectionate & interesting Guests –

The dear Bard of Weston is more Musical than Darwin or yr humble Servt as you will readily allow when I tell you that formerly He used sometimes to sing a song himself —I have been highly gratified by the regard which He & Tom have conceived for each other —the dear Boy is well & adds his kindest wishes to those of yr affectionate H Excuse a sad scrawl as we are just arrived very cool from the Sea – adio

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[inverted text]

Mrs Hayley
at Miss Seward Lichfield

To
M^rs Hayley

at the New assembly Room
Derby Park Gate
near Chester