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After passing our mornings in social study, we usually walked out together at noon. In returning from one of our rambles, around the pleasant village of Weston, we were met by Mr. Greatheed, an accomplished Minister of the Gospel, who resides at Newport-Pagnel, and whom Cowper described to me in terms of cordial

esteem.

He came forth to meet us, as we drew near the house, and it was scon visible from his countenance and manner, that he had ill news to impart. After the most tender preparation that humanity could devise, he acquainted Cowper that Mrs. Unwin was under the immediate pressure of a paralytic attack.

My agitated friend rushed to the sight of the sufferer :—He returned to me in a state that alarmed me in the highest degree for his faculties:-His first speech to me was wild in the extreme: My answer would appear little less so; but it was addressed to the predominant fancy of my unhappy friend, and with the blessing of Heaven it produced an instantaneous calm in his troubled mind.

From that moment he rested on my friendship, with such mild and cheerful confidence, that his affectionate spirit regarded me as sent providentially to support him in a season of the severest affliction.

A very fortunate incident enabled me to chear him by a little shew of medical assistance in a form that was highly beneficial to

his compassionate mind, whatever its real influence might be on the palsied limbs of our interesting patient.

Having formerly provided myself with an electrical apparatus, for the purpose of applying it medicinally to counteract a continual tendency to inflammation in the eyes, I had used it occasionally (for several years) in trying to relieve various maladies in my rustic neighbours; often, indeed, with no success, but now and then with the happiest effect. I wished to try this powerful, though uncertain remedy on the present occasion; and enquired most eagerly if the village of Weston could produce an electrical machine.—-It was hardly to be expected; but it so happened, that a worthy inhabitant of Weston; a man whom Cowper regarded for uncommon gentleness of manners, and for an ingenious mind, possessed exactly such an apparatus as we wanted, which he had partly constructed himself.

This good man, Mr. Socket, was absent from 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 consumate 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 ten

der

-

der 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 tendernes 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 XXII.

To Lady HESKETH.

The Lodge, May 24, 1791.

I wish with all my heart, my dearest

Coz. that had I 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, the muscles 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.

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 tomorrow. 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

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.

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LETTER XXIII.

To Lady HESKETH.

W. C.

MY DEAREST COZ.

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

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