William Godwin to Mary Hays, 9 March 1796.¹

    I have read your manuscript.2 I do not know exactly the kind of decision you require from me. I believe it would be wrong to suspend your career by particular remarks. I have therefore only to say that it is difficult for any thing to be better than the manner; it is soothing & fascinating; all that remains is to open upon us a story correspondent to the attire in which it is to be clothed.

                                            W G

Wednesday ev^g

Mar. 9. 1796

Miss Hayes

Postmark: none

¹ MS G 0319, Pforzheimer Collection, NYPL; Brooks, Correspondence 444; Clemit, Letters 1.164; Wedd, Love Letters 235. 

² MS. of Emma Courtney.