the village, but his wife, for whose relief the apparatus had been originally formed, most readily lent it to her suffering neighbour. With this seasonable aid, seconded by medicines probably more efficacious, from a physician (of consummate skill and benevolence, united to the most fascinating manners) whom I was then so happy as to reckon in the list of my living friends, Mrs. Unwin was gradually restored. But the progress of her recovery, and its influence on the tender spirits of Cowper, will sufficiently appear in the following letters. I shall have a mournful pleasure in adding to these a few Verses, in which the gratitude of Cowper has celebrated, most tenderly, the kindness of the late Dr. Austin, the physician to whom I have alluded, and whose memory is most deservedly dear to me. The extreme tenderness of Cowper is indeed very forcibly displayed in that generous excess of praise, with which he speaks of my services on his sudden affliction. , LETTER CCCLXXXVII. TO LADY HESKETH. Weston, May 24, 1792. I WISH with all my heart, my dearest Coz, that I had not ill news for the subject of the present letter. My friend, my Mary, has again been attacked by the same disorder, that threatened me last year with the loss of her, and of which you were yourself a witness. Gregson would not allow that first stroke to be paralytic, but this he acknowledges to be so; and with respect to the former, I never had myself any doubt that it was; but this has been much the severest. Her speech has been almost unintelligible from the moment that she was struck; it is with difficulty that she opens her eyes, and she cannot keep them open; cles necessary to the purpose being contracted; and as to self-moving powers, from place to place, and the use of her right hand and arm, she has entirely lost them. the mus It has happened well, that of all men living the man most qualified to assist and comfort me is here, though till within these few days I never saw him, and a few weeks since had no expectation that I ever should. You have already guessed that I mean Hayley. Hayley who loves me as if he had known me from my cradle. When he returns to Town, as he must, alas! too soon, he will pay his respects to you. I will not conclude without adding, that our poor patient is beginning, I hope, to recover from this stroke also; but her amendment is slow, as must be expected at her time of life and in such a disorder. I am as well myself as you have ever known me in a time of much trouble, and even better. It was not possible to prevail on Mrs. Unwin to let me send for Dr. Kerr, but Hayley has written to his friend Dr. Austin a representation of her case, and we expect his opinion and advice to morrow. In the mean time, we have borrowed an electrical machine from our neighbour Socket, the effect of which she tried yesterday, and the day before, and we think it has been of material service. She was seized while Hayley and I were walking, and Mr. Greatheed, who called while we were absent, was with her. I forgot in my last to thank thee for the proposed amendments of thy friend, Whoever he is, make my compliments to him, and thank him. The passages to which he objects have been all altered, and when he shall see them new dressed, I hope he will like them better. W. C. LETTER CCCLXXXVIII. TO LADY HESKETH. MY DEAREST COUSIN, The Lodge, May 26, 1792. KNOWING that you will be anxious to learn how we go on, I write a few lines to inform you, that Mrs. Unwin daily recovers a little strength, and a little power of utterance; but she seems strongest, and her speech is more distinct in a morning. Hayley has been all in all to us on this very afflictive occasion. Love him, I charge you, dearly for my sake. Where could I have found a man, except himself, who could have made himself so necessary to me in so short a time, that I absolutely know not how to live without him? Adieu, my dear sweet Coz. Mrs. Unwin, as plainly as her poor lips can speak, sends her best love, and Hayley threatens in a few days to lay close siege to your affections in person. W. C. There is some hope, I find, that the Chancellor may continue in office, and I shall be glad if he does; because we have no single man worthy to succeed him. I open my letter again to thank you, my dearest Coz, for yours just received. Though happy, as you well know, to see you at all times, we have no need, and I trust shall have none, to trouble you with a journey made on purpose; yet once again, I am willing and desirous to believe, we shall be a happy trio at Weston; but unless necessity dictates a journey of charity, I wish all yours hither to be made for pleasure. Farewell. Thou shalt know how we go on. TO DR. AUSTIN, OF CECIL STREET, LONDON. Austin! accept a grateful verse from me! Verse oft has dash'd the scythe of time aside, Were in the power of verse like mine to give,. |