Hayley-XII-19

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Eartham July 21
1782

My dear Sister

The severe disappointment, which your last affectionate Letter announced to us, stiffled [sic] the delight, which would otherwise have instantly arisen from the poetical Treasure it inclosed.— I could only reply to you, in the moment, by a few sorry Verses, expressive of the pain we felt in the unwelcome Idea of not seeing you at Eartham – But as our nature is too sanguine to let a delightful Hope expire, while there is any possibility of keeping it alive, we are now amusing ourselves with new prospects of attracting you to this beautiful village in the glowing Month of August, when our Scenery is peculiarly enchanting, & when the presence of our Friend Romney will furnish us with new attractive powers to draw you Hither — We reluctantly subscribe to the Truth of your good Father^s Opinion, that a journey to the South is too great an attempt for his Age & Infirmities — But as He has most generously expressed a Wish (for which we love & admire Him) that you should visit Sussex without that painful Anxiety, which

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so infirm & so dear a Companion must occasion in your Travels, we flatter ourselves you will not hesitate to embrace his very kind proposal, - & to indulge us in a pleasure, which is so much the object of our Wishes & our Hopes – You may surely leave yr good Father in his present state of Health without any breach of filial Regard, & without feeling a pleasure-killing sollicitude concerning the distance between you; for in case of any sudden alarm, an Express from Litchfield might reach you at Eartham in less than 24 Hours —In short, as I can see no reasons against such an Expedition for you, & many in favor of it, particularly the Benefit, which I am sure your own Health will receive, I will add nothing more on this subject, but bid adieu to it in the enlivening Persuasion, that you will come – so bon Voyage! tell my Friend Nanny [Manny?] to pack up as soon as you please, & Heaven conduct you both in safety over all the Hills & dales that ar present divide you from this chearful Village – I foresee no danger

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of delay to you on the Road, except the wise doctors of Oxford should sally forth to meet you (as they ought to do,) in their Holiday Habits, & insist on conferring academical Honours on the capital Poetess of our Country—

Your poetical Epistle to Mundy has many charming Passages, & would form a delightful & complete little Poem, if you would change a few sarcastic Notes, & be as candid to the sons of Themis, as you are liberal to the children of Apollo –

The Rustic Magistrate, & all
His Brethren of the Session's Hall
Let puny witlings jeer!
Against that Peace-protecting Train
Let Seward's nobler Soul disdain
To point the Cynic Sneer!

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If Freedom their just claims regard,
oft to the Justice must the Bard The Palm of Worth surrender:
Tho' Laurels deck his loftier Brow,
The Flatterer of Pomp must bow
To Poverty'^s defender—

When each, with firm unspotted Heart,
Maintains the Lustre of his Part,
If Truth their merits scan,
Their different Virtues both endear,
and Reason will in each revere
The real Friend of Man—
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This poetical Mushroom started up on the day, that I first considered yr Epistle, & I have just discovered, that I did not send it to you as I intended – What a sweet Picture might your tender Imagination form of the truely beneficent Country Justice! pray think of is & engraft it on yr Poem – No! I revoke this request: pray think of nothing but of setting out for Eartham! – Eliza most earnestly joins me in this last Intreaty, & in every kind wish towards you — say much for us to yr good Father on His so generously befriending our Hopes of seeing you & believe me

ever yr most affectionate WH