Hayley-XII-2

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Eartham,
sunday August 12
1781

My dear Sister

You have metamorphosed me into (what I never thought of becoming) , that unpleasant, but very useful Creature a Critic - tho perhaps you have given me only the Form of the animal, without its Virtues; for I am much of Gray’s opinion, & think the worst verse in the world a better Thing than most observations upon it. Indeed (to confess a shameful Truth) I hardly ever correct my own poetry, unless forced into that irksome drudgery by a Friend, generous & stubborn enough to say, that it must be done ; & as I am more & more convinced every day, that such a Friend is one of the greatest Blessings a poet can possess, allow me to hope, that you will love me the better for my critical severity in sending you splendid little poem to the anvil again. – it is a sterling piece of Gold that only wants beating out into a broader Circle –

You have no reason to hurry yourself in point of Time, for if your poem is printed the beginning of the Winter, it will be in excellent Season – Mrs H will be at Bath about that Time, & I am sure she will promote the circulation of it by every means in

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her power – I resign the pleasure of her society during the winter for the sake of her very tender constitution, which cannot support the keen air of my favourite Hill at that season. — Indeed we should be a couple very ill-matched, if our souls were not in much better harmony than our Nerves, for hers cannot endure Cold, & mine (at least my optic ones) are no less injured by Heat – so much so, that I am forced to give up all places of public Entertainment, & to avoid even the fashionable hot rooms of London,

But we have mutual Indulgence for our respective Infirmities, & maintain our affection for each other in spite of the Elements —— I am passionately fond of my Hermitage in the very depth of winter, tho I dare not use my Eyes by Candle light, but I have luckily got a marvellous old woman, who resembles Euryclea in the Odyssey – who lived with my mother before I was born, & now feeds her grown baby with literary pap — She has fortunately as great a passion for Books as her Master, & actually read to me the 2 last volumes of Gibbon before Eliza returned from Bath in the spring. — Apropos of that genuine Roman Eagle I have just received a letter from Him at Brighthelmstone, promising to spend a few days here the beginning of September. – as He is a much better Critic than I am, & also knew Lady Miller, I shall be happy to shew

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Him your poem, while He is here, as I am sure you will promise me not to imitate yr Friend Pratt & say in an absurd advertisement, that yr poem is improved by Hints from the first literary characters of the age — His Poem on Sympathy has really very great merit, & I am sure you will forgive his very ill behaviour towards you on the consideration mentioned in my last – Yet let me entreat you, my dear Sister, to learn from what is past, how much we odd Beings called Authors ought to be on our Guard in the article of letters. For Heaven’s sake let no mortal peep at the hasty scrawls, that I dispatch to you, for I scribble to you not only in the most careless Haste, but with all the Frankness of the most unguarded affection. – I am at present particularly overwhelmed with literary Business. – not only being engaged in a very long Poem with tremendous annotations, which I want to finish before X^stmas, but obliged to stop in the middle of this work, to finish some additions to the Poem on History, which is to be reprinted, as soon as I can dispatch them – but I

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have thrown aside all my papers &c for these last two days to devote myself entirely to yr more interesting Muse, at least for all the Time, that I dare to make use of my inflammatory rebellious Eyes, which so frequently fail me when I \have/ most occasion to call for their Service – a calamity so galling to the Mind, that I most cordially hope you may never feel it in the slightest degree! — Farewell – God bless you & the object of your filial Care accept every kind wish from the Inhabitants of Eartham & believe me ever

your most affectionate Brother
WH

P.S.
I fancy the Lady, you expected, did not speak of your poetical Brother in a Tone, that harmonized with your enthusiastic spirit – I cannot suppose myself in her good Graces, as in Truth she is no Favourite of mine – for I have lately had much serious reason to complain of her Conduct towards me, which I should not however even hint at to you in fraternal Confidence, but from the Fear of her having endeavoured to sink me a little in yr good opinion, which tho' I am solicitous to moderate, I am still more sollicitous [sic] to Preserve

adio