1592997946000 1558097259000 Standard Record object-110005523 1747159852040 1681743761000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110005523 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005523 035085db-ebd3-39b2-a40b-50936ce7dafe 5 person reference agent-192551 adlib-agent-192551 b494e74a-20ec-3ce9-be5f-3267eaba4253 Seward, Anna person reference agent-116992 adlib-agent-116992 ef3205d8-6794-3a6e-aae6-922ee555a7fb Romney, George person reference agent-147545 adlib-agent-147545 5e6f0704-813a-3b1d-999f-9cc06c46c2c8 Wright, Joseph (Wright of Derby) person reference agent-198633 adlib-agent-198633 ffe050c5-c2e4-38a7-9bda-529853b51786 Curtis, Sir Roger person reference agent-198502 adlib-agent-198502 b67bd5fa-4f2a-302b-afaa-81f4c4f45ec8 Hayley, Eliza person reference agent-198683 adlib-agent-198683 7e8947bd-8aa7-3fbc-8d50-d176e429f260 Long, William FRS, FSA person reference agent-199380 adlib-agent-199380 804c378a-9597-3472-9ddc-703cdc3c1762 Seward, Captain content description Hayley asks Seward's forgiveness "for making a very inadequate Return for yr fully & inchanting [sic] Pacquet". His "few hasty Lines ... [wil] ... travel in with yr Poem in the Pocket of our beloved artist [Romney]". He explains that Romney has "just paid us his annual Visit" and is preparing to leave the following day, "having half finished two most exquisite Pictures of Children with animals, the one chearful, & the other pathetic" [one may possibly be image 1703, p765, George Romney, A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings, Alex Kidson, which shows a girl with 2 sheep: Kidson suggests this may relate to a sitting in January 1783 lsiting Sheep"]. "His departure has begun to throw such a gloom over my Spirits, that I am not disposed to scribble even to you, & indeed my Eyes are in a state that would otherwise force me to be very Laconic." Hayley thanks Seward for her "successful Efforts to serve our dear Friend Longinus" [see Hayley/XII/35], and writes that he has "Perused Eugenio's Epistle [the second Epistle in Seward's epistolary verse novel, "Louisa"] with increasing pleasure". However while "you are probably very right about the close of it; ... I cannot for the Life of me embrace yr opinion --- I am not surprized at yr partiality to the concluding Idea from the Anecdote you mention, but it strikes me in a different point of view - I admit indeed most readily, that in a quick and angry Conference between two Lovers, on the point of Separation from a Misunderstanding, the Sentiment & Expression uttered by [redacted by cutting out a sliver of the letter] was natural, manly, spirited & sublime. - But in the close of a long Epistle, written at Leisure, & dictated by the most tender affection, the same sentiment, from the hand of Eugenio only strikes me as harsh & indelicate. ... I am possibly very wrong in this point but the Delight I have received from the other parts of yr Poem, & my most ardent wish for the Increase of yr Fame induce me to be very impolitely sincere. As a Woman, you have a right to be a little angry with me, but as an Author, I am sure you will approve my sincerity even if you continue to reject my opinion, & in truth I intreat you to reject it, if yr own Feelings, on a fresh deliberation, convince you it is wrong." The letter concludes with Hayley relating that Romney "calls me to criticise some parts of his new creation -- I wish I had the magical Power of transporting you hither in an Instant to enjoy its Beauties" He adds a postscript saying he is "glad you are pleased with the Ode to Wright -- yr Criticisms are kind, & I believe very just - certainly in the first point - on the other I have doubts" and asks if Seward's "namesake Capt Seward supply our Friend Wright with any drawings of the Sublime Scenery He is to paint? [these are scenes from the Siege of Gibraltar: see Hayley/X/53 and 54] Curtis promised to send Him such assistance - but He has not yet received all the necessary Materials for the Perfection of his Work". Hayley/XII/37 1 accession number Hayley/XII/37 110005523 priref 110005523 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005523 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110005523 reference agent-149638 adlib-agent-149638 7376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8 The Fitzwilliam Museum 1783 1783 1783-09-13 reference agent-198487 adlib-agent-198487 4dbae6db-a725-3bfd-b34e-5d215b1a85e6 Hayley, William 1 sheet, folded. William Hayley to Anna Seward: letter object OBJECT