Eliza Fenwick, at T. H. Pierces Esqr, New Park near Axminster, to Mary Hays, Hatton Garden, London, Sunday (and Monday), 4 and 5 July.1 Sunday ^& Monday^ July 4th & 5th A week dear Mary has elapsed since I arrived here more dead than alive so exhausted was I at the end of my journey by fatigue more of mind than body. I came also to a scene of sorrow. Mr Pierces second daughter, a fine girl of 14 & Eliza’s most beloved friend & compan Yes dear Mary I am safe, but not sound. I have a diseased mind. You know however my temper, & how little disposed it is to create or augment misery. I am rather restless than wretched & silent oftener than sad. It is not unnatural nor yet at all blameable that One great detriment to my perfect recovery is the rainy state of the weather. I cannot climb the hills nor repose in the wood where a favorite spot I selected ten years ago bears my name. Sunshine appears necessary to happiness in all cases except those of blighted affections. I have heard once from Mr F. since I have been here. I do not suppose you have seen him for he intended to keep very close to avoid danger. I am determined Mary, if it be possible, to consider myself & children totally separated from his bad I think of you every night when I go to bed & wish I knew whether you are rid of your nightly interruption. Write me a long letter & tell me every thing you can of yourself Make my respectful compliments of farewell to Mr Friend [sic] when you see him & if there is any one else you think of for me I shall be obliged – The Kingsfords in particular – Explain me & my motives as you deem most prudent.2 I wish it were possible for you to avoid giving your sister my opinion of her manuscript. I respect her too much not to be reluctant to give her that pain3 Adieu dear friend. Direct at T. H. Pierces Esqr New Park near Axminster. Yrs most truly E Fenwick Address: Miss Hays | Hatton Garden 20 [sic] | London Postmark: 8 July 1800 1 Fenwick Family Papers, Correspondence, 1798-1855, NY Historical Library; Wedd, Fate of the Fenwicks 8-9; not in Brooks, Correspondence. 2 William Frend, Hay's long-time lover and friend and another reference in this correspondence to their on-again, off-again relationship. For more on Frend and the Kingsfords, see the Biographical Index. 3 Reference here is to Elizabeth Hays's MS. of her novel, Fatal Errors, which Wollstonecraft read through in September 1796 but would not be published until 1819. |
MARY HAYS: LIFE, WRITINGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE > MARY HAYS CORRESPONDENCE > 1800-1809 > 1800 >