Hayley-IX-4

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My very dear Flaxman

I hope that I return our dear disciple to you neither too late, nor too soon; a point very difficult to hit exactly, in his singular situation in regard to that tender part of Mortal Machinery, the Lungs!

He certainly is not perfectly himself again in this article, yet his Infirmity there is, I am assur’d by medical Friends, only such, as time alone (with the aid of moderate Care) will most probably remove: I should therefore deem myself inexcusable and unmanly in the extreme, if I suffer a too fond Excess of parental apprehension to detain him longer from the just Pursuit of his professional Studies, under a Guide, whom we both esteem & love, as one of the most excellent and tender-hearted men upon Earth. I have persuaded myself & I still (Thank Heaven!) retain the Persuasion that under your Guidance He is likely to prove, in due Time, an artist of distinction & a very amiable accomplished Man - It is

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possible, my admirable Friend, than the inscrutable decrees of God may have assign’d him a different destiny, & that he may not reach even the full æra of Manhood — I use myself to reflect every day, He is mortal, that I may feel all the Gratitude I ought to feel to Heaven, for having granted me such a Blessing so long, & to learn, if possible, the due Resignation to its decrees, if – -

A Tear of bursting Tenderness precluded me from finishing the preceding Sentence, I quit my paper to take a Turn on this airy Hill, & meditate on the chearful Hopes we ought to cherish of the beloved Traveller, who is at this Moment on the road to his inestimable, Master — adieu for half an Hour.

Monday Noon May 8 .97

A little air & Exercise on this smiling and salutary spot dissipated the Gloom of parental Solicitude. – I return to chat with you on paper, my dear Flaxman, concerning the pleasing Works that your industrious Pupil contrived to execute here, in spite of the disadvantages arising from the excessive Fatigue

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of his journey hither – you will see the little copy he has made of his Mothers Portrait but as He is too modest to talk much of his own Works, He may not describe to you what He has executed in his own particular Art, so fully, as I think these Performances deserve to be made known to you – Let me therefore say for Him that besides his diminutive medallion of our pleasant little Architect He has finished a Bust of the Hermit, which our Friend Guy has praised as a very striking Resemblance.

The youth has assuredly been actuated by a Spirit truly filial to devote spontaneously so much of his attention to finish for himself in two different Arts, the likenesses of the two odd Mortals, who have watched over his infancy with no common anxiety & affection. – if I am not blinded by parental partiality, these Portraits do Honor both to his Heart & his Hand.- Nothing however can shew me the goodness of his nature more pleasing Light, than his perfect attachment to you & your divine Art & that an attachment so just so honorable, so delightful may be long and happy, in every point of view, is the fervent prayer my dear Friends (for in my prayers I include the tender Nancy) of

yr anxious & affectionate
Hermit

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To
M^r Flaxman