Hayley-IX-5

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My very dear Flaxman

You have my most cordial Thanks for yr very kind pacquet - particularly yr pleasing sketches to exercise the pencil of our dear Invalide, who will write to you as soon as He has executed yr kind Commission of trying the Light for yr new Monument, by contemplating the Cast you so agreably promise us, in the situation proposed for yr admirable Work –

What an interesting Mother is your afflicted Mrs Lushington! I have also a Letter from her, which I am answering by this Post.

yr design for her daughters [sic] Monument delights me, & if my Inscription has any Pathos, I owe it to the double Inspiration of her Letters & your Pencil – highly eloquent both! – pressed as I am for Time, I will scrawl a Copy of the Epitaph, which I am sending her by this Post, that you may tell me, with all the Frankness of true Friendship, if it harmonizes, as it ought to do, with your exquisite Figures. – pray do you know the

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Maiden Name of Mrs Lushington – I fancy Her the daughter of Bishop Law - & feel a wish to hear something of her History – I have told her, I wish the Name of Blackshaw (a name very inharmonious to my Ear & I presume hateful to Her own) to form no part of the Inscription — but you shall see on the other side of the paper how I wish it to stand - I will only add here a request to hear from you soon, & the cordial benediction to Nancy & yrself of

yr sincere
& affectionate Hermit

Sunday Morn
August 12 1798

Tom improves in Countenance but not yet in the powers of bodily Exertion. He could not run ten yards for the finest statues of antiquity — Patience & Courage!

You will have the kindness to keep the Epitaph secluded from every Eye except the dear intelligent Nancy — adieu!

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Epitaph
Mary
Daughter of William & of Paulina Lushington
born Oct.^r 7^th.1771 died Feb^y- 5^th.1797

Blame not, ye calm observers of Distress,
A mother sorrowing to a fond Excess!
True filial Excellence, of Life so brief,
Claims the full tribute of no common Grief:
Here Friendship, form'd by Nature's sweetest Tie,
And hallow'd e'en by Heaven's approving Eye,
[paper ripped]ents the dearest Joys, Affection gave,
Lost in the darkness of a Daughters Grave.
Pity absolves the Parent thus oercome;
Her Reason crushed, her Resignation dumb:
No human Comforters such pangs controul;
But Seraphs whisper to the Mourners Soul.
"Raise thy sunk Eye to Her, in sainted Rest,
Whose Beauty charmed Thee, whose Perfection blest;
Whose Voice, now joining the Seraphic Quire,
To Thee was soothing, as Devotion's Lyre!
See Her exalted from the Mists of Earth
To radiant Recompence for spotless Worth!
And let her Merit (still thy graceful Pride:)
Prove, to the Throne of Truth, her Parents guide!"

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To
M^r Flaxman Sculptor
Buckingham Street
Fitzroy Square
London

August 12