1592997946000 1555586361000 Standard Record object-110005510 1747159852021 1681742376000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110005510 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005510 942e8724-d5a6-3c69-a720-d61ed9020eb9 5 person reference agent-192551 adlib-agent-192551 b494e74a-20ec-3ce9-be5f-3267eaba4253 Seward, Anna person reference agent-198991 adlib-agent-198991 6704da4c-9ab6-3716-8ebd-8a5d62c1c5ab Saville, John person reference agent-198972 adlib-agent-198972 920da6ce-e8e0-3b0e-94df-aef3bd9411e9 Seward, Thomas person reference agent-198502 adlib-agent-198502 b67bd5fa-4f2a-302b-afaa-81f4c4f45ec8 Hayley, Eliza person reference agent-198990 adlib-agent-198990 e43a994a-ae1e-3cdc-8405-f72838d0eae9 Whalley, Thomas Sedgwick person reference agent-199109 adlib-agent-199109 128e09a5-2b62-31a3-a80b-a84a732d1101 Ball, Margaret person reference agent-199113 adlib-agent-199113 1a60dd71-1e58-36ad-8671-68757aa0bbd4 Williams, Helen Maria content description Hayley begins with an apology for not having responded sooner to Seward's "Pacquet so enriched with Music & Poetry", but explains that the boils on his neck have proliferated. His surgeon "who loves Port & strong-Beer" says they've arisen because he drinks water, and "my Physician who lives on a vegetable diet because you eat animal Food ... But enough of medical matters I willonly add that after a few slashes of the Lancet my neck is reduced into good shape & order." He continues: "Your letter delighted me tho it found me in considerable pain. I must sincerely congratulat you on the affectionate & sensible conduct of yr Father to the excellent Giovanni [John Saville] - But your gratitude towards me is Hyperbolical..." Hayley changes tack to tease Seward -"Apropos of Hyperbolical Expression" - for including the following lines in her Elegy: "the stellar Fires Spread o'er the sable Cope their thousand Eyes" and relates how, too feverish to sleep, he "surprized Eliza about 3 o clock in the morning by the following feverish Extempore, which she insisted on my committing to paper as soon as we arose -- so if you are pestered with the phantasies of a sick Poet you find you are chiefly to thank his wife for them". This is followed by 24 lines of rhyming couplets, titled "Impromptu", poking fun at the above lines, and concluding "These saucy Rhymes, so impolite, Crossed my hot noddle in the Night, When on my neck new Boils arose & vilely murdered my repose, So pray forgive me, if you find That Pain has made me rude & blind!" Hayley continues: "I am mightily pleased to hear you say that you feel sick whenever you think of the black Hero - These are the breeding Qualms of yr pregnant Fancy - may all the nine assemble at the Groaning & Apollo Himself play dr Slop on the occasion Blest be the moment when to charm the Earth yr negro Babe shall struggle into Birth". [see Hayley/XII/24] To encourage Seward to prioritise her writing over her "visiting Business ... I shall give a spur to yr Ambition by telling you of a Rival -- Know then that the little poetical Helen [Helen Maria Williams] whom you saw here in the Summer has just entreated permission to send me a long historical Poem to criticize." despite being "overwhelmed with various Loads of literary Business" Hayley agreed, and has been sent "60 Folio Pages fully written but thank Heaven in a large Hand -- it has really wonderful merit considering her youth". He tells Seward that it "contains a very spirited & Elegant Compliment to yr monody on Andre", but refuses to reveal anything more to Seward "till you have made some progress with the black Prince". Hayley segues from this into a brief discussion of the monument George III raised to Major Andre, saying that he "wished He had possest Taste enough to have taken the Epitaph from you". He asks Seward to "Excuse my sad Scrawl as my Eyes are sadly overburthened with scribbling Business & pray whenever I am Silent longer than yr affaction wishes & yr kindness deserves remember my ocular Infirmities & forgive or rather pity me for what I cannot help --" and explains that Eliza is away visiting her mother "so I have no literary assistant which I always want". Hayley mentions that he "saw last night Mr Whalleys new publication advertised & shall send for it immediately", and signs off asking her to "remember me most kindly to Giovanni [John Saville]". Hayley/XII/25 1 accession number Hayley/XII/25 110005510 priref 110005510 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005510 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005510 reference agent-149638 adlib-agent-149638 7376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8 The Fitzwilliam Museum 1782 1782 1782-12-01 reference agent-198487 adlib-agent-198487 4dbae6db-a725-3bfd-b34e-5d215b1a85e6 Hayley, William 2 sheets, folded. William Hayley to Anna Seward: letter object OBJECT