9 December 1792

Hugh Worthington, Highbury Place, to Mary Hays, [Gainsford Street], 9 December 1792.1

Highbury Decr 9, 92

My Dear Friend,

       I enter very sensibly into all your feelings of anxiety just at ye moment of publication.2 You remind me of [the words] of a good french writer in his preface “In my preparations for publishing I wished & labored to please every one; now my work is launching into ye world, I scarcely expect to please any one.”

       Be not disheartened. Yr work has great excellence. If some shd censure, many will applaud it. You have very considerable powers of composition. I wish you good success; ye part you desired is enclosed; & all ye rest shall in a few days be returned.

            by ye hands of

                        Yr truly affecte friend

                                     Hugh Worthington

Address: Miss Hayes

1 A. F. Wedd Collection, shelfmark 24.93(16), Dr. Williams's Library, London; Brooks, Correspondence 277.

2 Hays's Letters and Essays, Moral and Miscellaneous.