Flaxman-1-6

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1795 [added in pencil]

Dear Kind Friend

The Studies and employment of my profession are my excuse for returning one late answer to your two friendly and welcome letters, and the same excuse seems likely to serve me on similar occasions as long as I live; “labour which seems to be my portion in this life” as your justly admired English Homer says, I am contented with, I thank God that he has given this portion instead of idleness, and that he has seasoned it with all the delights of the Intellectual and visible worlds, after receving [sic] so rich a treasure, any part should be only to implore a Spirit of diligence and œconomy to cultivate and use the gift —

I am greatly concerned for your indisposition at the time when you sent the beautiful Sonnet to my Wife. I hope you have been perfectly recovered long before this, I rejoice with You that Thomas was not hurt by his fall and I expect to rejoice doubly in his

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improvement, for he cannot fail to derive great advantage from the Society and instruction of so Great a Master and Friend as Romney, to whose picture I give the utmost credit on the score of M:^rs Bosanquet’s; pray tell the worthy Painter that I have borrowed his Lay-figure according to his permission given before he left town, desire him once more not to hasten to town on Thomas’s account for he cannot be better than in M:^r Romney’s company; whatever solicitude I have expressed at any time on his account, was only that the discipline might not be relaxed necessary to form a Good man, a Scholar, and profound Artist:

I have set an enquiry on foot for the address of M^r Cromwell from which I hope we may profit something — thanks for all your Goodness and Happiness to yourself and all the inmates of your house —

I have the honour to remain

Dear Sir

Your obliged and affectionate Servant
John Flaxman

The other Side for Nancy

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And what can Nancy say, seeing herself depriv’d thus of her favourite Urchin for a time unlimited —

But Titania resumes the more favorable part of her character and gently admonishes her Oberon to let her have him soon again, — She is grateful for his Monday’s Letter and for the Sonnet which she approves throughout, and in return she sends the Poet a Description of a late design made for his friend S^r W:^m’s Monument —

A Profile Medalion [sic] of S^r W:^m bound with Olive, — underneath the Scales of Justice, on one side two Mourning Pundits, and on the other a most beautiful & Interesting Group \In Flaxman’s Stile/ an Indian Woman with her children weeping the loss of their Protector

on the top of the Architecture which forms the Whole is a spreading choir of angels singing “Peace on Earth, Good will toward Men,” treated in the same visionary manner with the well known business of Love & Pity — a line in the Epitaph suggested the Idea and it is highly approv’d of by

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the widow — With kind remembrance to our good Friend Romney & sincere hopes that your stomachic Pains have long since left you

I remain with all proper
Love & respect your
gratefull [sic] Titania

have you seen our old friend the wounded Serpent since I left Eartham?

William Hayley Esq:^re
Eartham
near Chichester

Thou Unkind Urchin ⎟ when wilt thou return to thy Preceptor to they Friend, & to thy duty?‚ you are \really/ wanted here my little friend in your late acquir'd character of Domitor Canium, Woustry [?] is brought to Bed of six fine Puppies, how many shall I send to Eartham's Bard for all his kindness towards us? we must crave your speedy assistance or all will not go well but alas! the Bat, the flying Ball, the frisky Bruno, & the delights of illeg Bathcary [?] have caused you to forget Titania ! ———

— — Remember me kindly to Socket & my little George, I fain would borrow for the last a miss [kiss?] to pay it on your return, but you are (fatherlike) so very shy t'would only shock you, so let it pass –

and believe me your affectionate Titania

do not forget to remember my dear Tom, to ask the chichester coachman for my Silk Handkerchief – it is a favorite & a Ron[rest obscured by seal]