Hayley-XII-10

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Chancery Lane
Friday noon

Behold me, dear Sister, just seated by the side of the dear Longinus ! & while He darts his delighted Eyes over yr Letter, I seize a pen, to say how unable I am to express all the grateful sensations of my \Heart/ for the affectionate & endearing civilities, I have just received from the lovely Julia & her hospitable Father. — let me Entreat you both to believe, that they will ever ever live, as they ought to do, in my remembrance ! — My journey was as good as a journey could be, that carried me away from Friends so dear to me

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But the rapidity of my motion (for I reached St Albans last night) has given me a painful Inflammation in one of my unfortunate Eyes, which must be \my/ apology for this woeful Scrawl, which I intend to dispatch to my dear Sister with the little Book I promised her, by the Coach that sets out for Litchfield tonight – as the Episcopal Barrel of oysters is not, like the Widows Cruise, in exhaustible, you will forgive my adding a little Fish to the Book: but Longinus says they must not venture by the Coach, but follow by the safer Conveyance

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of the tardy Waggon – allow me however to introduce them to you by a few Post-Rhymes, which started up as I was whirled along my last stage this morning -

Since Poets; while placed under Nature^s controul [sic]
want Food for the Stomach, as well as the soul,
of Each I present you a little supply –
a small Volume to read – a few oysters to fry –
& O! while she bends oer the warm smoaking [sic] shell
May Julia's kind Thoughts on that Visitant dwell,
who wishes (tho torn from her Table in Haste)
To be dear to her Heart as the Fish to her Taste!
Nor let her suppose (tho He call'd her a Witch)
That He blames her keen Gusto for Viands so rich,
No! let Earth Air & Water their dainties confer,
all their dainties are due, as a Tribute, to Her,
whose Fancy supplies, to the Universe kind,
The most exquisite Feast to each delicate Mind –

______________________________________
The dear Longinus is at

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this instant proving the Truth of these verses, by devouring the pages of yr Poem with enthusiastic avidity – He will carry it to yr Bookseller today, & perhaps may be able to insert a few lines concerning the Success of his Commission in the parcel with this Scrawl, which I am forced to close – once more my dear Sister let me entreat you to believe me truely sensible of yr Kindness towards me –

Say every kind thing for me to your Father & be assured you will be ever dear to yr grateful affectionate Brother

WH

I find that I must be in Sussex on Sunday & perhaps again \in/ London in the course of next week on some Business still more important to me than my own which you will believe when I tell you tis in the service of Longinus - I must resign the Hope of seeing Litchfield again till Spring – adio