Hayley-XXI-59

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Derby April 16 1792

My dear H

Anxious to enjoy as much of Mr. Coke’s society during his present short sojourn with us as possible I am a day later than I intended in replying to your truely [sic] kind & entertaining Letter - but I shall be in time with my frank for sunday, & I inclose [sic] you two more for future sundays.

I am comforted at your resolution not to part with your pleasant companion rashly, & that the eloquence of the King of Bohemia has prevailed. I thought of you & Tom when I read The Winters [sic] Tale two years ago, after seeing Mr. Wrights [sic] beautiful picture of the Storm, but I thought till looking into the play

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again the other day it was the sentiment of an embassador [sic] supposing I conclude with the fashion of the times that it was too \feeling &/ elevated for the sentiment of Majesty. I laughed extremely & was not surprised at your description of your other companion whom I respect nevertheless for wishing to live with you, which certainly does credit to his taste, & I hope he will in time do credit to a name for which I felt an high and early veneration – but as I write in haste I must proceed to a subject which I confess is ever more interesting to me. I have for some time supposed from what I see of the Derby World (which I consider as an epitome of the Greater) that a Milton or a Shakespeare would at present obtain a very moderate interest even with the intelligent unless they made choice of

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a national subject, & I find D.^r Darwin's Bookseller is of my opinion: since he declines publishing the first part of the Botanic Garden (which he purchases) till politics are beome more settled & consequently less interesting, I conceive to the no small mortification of the Doctors [sic] vanity, tho he is himself much too discreet to sacrifice interest to ambition.

Even I am going to read Payne after reading the Rights of Woman which I brought with me from Darley & it has certainly the first of merits since it kept me awake two days in one of the most depressive colds I have ever experienced. All the Evanses & Strutts who are great Revolutionists admire it with enthusiasm & I confess I so highly approve of the general design that I wish the Work more perfect, or rather less defective

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Pray give me your opinion of this & of Payne which I hope to have read by the time I write to you again, tho I have at present a more engaging study namely Aikins Life of Howard which M.^r Coke kindly lends me from the book society – I must read Burke again to refresh my politics – & at present I have several afternoon engagements upon my hands which I relish as little as if the Gods had made me poetical. My visit to Stalling is put off illeg which I am glad of as the weather is cold again. We have been alarmed for the life of the Lincolnshire M.^rs Beridge which would be a dreadful loss to the Gladwins in every point of view but we now ?hope \flatter ourselves/ she is in the recovery.

Miss Pigot hopes Tom will reply to her in French & the next time I am to assist her in that language. You will give my love to him & believe me your very affectionate

Eliza