Hayley-XII-18

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Eartham June 23
1782

Had I not known, my dear Sister, by woeful Experience the Oppressive nature of the Influenza, & the life-sparing Quality of the disorder, I should tremble with the most painful apprehension at the Account of yr Health.— But from what I have both seen & felt of this prevailing diminutive Pestilence, I am encouraged to hope that my letter may find you perfectly recovered: & that the magical Juice of dandelion

Again with renovated Power supplies
The diamond'^s Water to those sparkling Eyes.

I rejoice that my favourite Ercilla had the Honour of amusing some of your sickly Hours.– We are both flattered by your generous & enthusiastic applause – & I doubt not but the heroic Ghost of the gallant Spaniard will appear to you in one of your sublime Visions, & tell the warm-hearted Julia how He glories in her Praise.—

your kind letter found me returned to my fav'rite Retirement, where I had the Comfort of finding my Household quite well, & my little inoculated Flock free from all

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Traces of the distemper, thro' which they had passed — The Influenza has indeed visited this healthy spot, but the extreme Purity of our air seems to struggle with Infection, & the disorder is much slighter & more transient \here/ than in any place, that I have lately visited – I cannot speak or think of this advantage belonging to this lovely little Villa, without fervently hoping that nothing may deprive us of the delight we expect in receiving you here in July, as I am convinced our airy climate & beautiful Scenery will have a most happy Effect on your varying Health; a consideration ! that interests my Heart yet more, if possible, than the joy we are sure of finding in your animated Society

What Robinson says concerning the Sale of your Elegy would appear to me utterly incredible, Had I not been acquainted with many similar Instances of the negligence or Stupidity of the Publick - when I have the happiness of seeing you, I will relate to you many curious anecdotes of this kind In the mean Time I trust you will

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not suffer this Circumstance to damp in any degree your Poetical Enthusiasm, which I consider as a sacred Vestal Fire, that I would guard most religiously from Extinction.— it is the true Source of your Immortality; for which you will be more indebted to your own Genius than to that of any Friend Whatever.

as to my own Poetry, I am vain enough to wish that it may live as long as a free Spirit & an affectionate Heart may be found upon the Earth - but with all this Vanity, I most solemnly believe, & hope that yours will last full as long. – I am sure it ought to do so, & I am very anxious to see you still Enlarge your claims, (fair as they already are) to the remembrance & the Love of future Times.—

You are very unjust to yr pathetic Muse, when you declare that her sable Mantle is worn-out – We cannot allow an Eastern Prince, who has never been plundered, to plead his Poverty – You have now in the storehouse of yr \rich/ Imagination aromatic Treasures, sufficient to embalm a little Host of Heroes; & I am sure you will

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bestow a handful of Frankincense on the Shade of the young nobleman who perished so gallantly.— Giovanni has probably told you how eager Meyers was on this Subject - He expected to hear all the particulars of L^dd Roberts Heroism from a Friend of the duke his Brother - He promised to send them to me, & as soon as they arrive, they shall travel to you, or rather I hope you will meet them here, for the joyous July is approaching — the beginning of this smiling Month is to bring us the dear Giovanni, still free I hope from all sickly Influenza ! – & our dear Parnassian Sister will, I trust, arrive to console us for his departure – pray remember me kindly to yr good Father, & say that I will never compliment his Periwig again, if he does not appear in the south. - but if He will come & shake his new Curls on the Top of my airy Mount, He shall be the Jupiter of this little Olympus -

God bless you both & send you safe & joyous to the friendly tho' unepiscopal Mansion

of yr affectionate Brother
WH

Eliza salutes you with every kind wish—

I am delighted to hear you have revised your earlier Compositions, as I am most eager to see the dear name of Seward on a large Quarto volume of Poetry - adio