lo Nicholson, Hcmans — Nicholson Correspondence. 



feel," she says (Oct. 3 ist), " great repugnance at giving you 

 such a continuation of trouble respecting this business, 

 but I have already said so much of the deep sense I have 

 of the kind interest you have taken to promote the 

 success of the cause, that I will not weary you with a 

 repetition of my obligations, but will only say, once for all, 

 that your philanthropy and incessant efforts in the cause 

 of infantile genius, are indelibly engraven on the minds 

 of myself and your highly favored }-oung friends." 



Soon after completing " England and Spain," Felicia 

 was ill. Referring to her illness and to her poem, 

 Matthew Nicholson wrote to Harriett on 5th January, 

 1809, "we have all been saved much anxiety by not 

 knowing till we can rejoice on her recovery, that your 

 dear sister has been so very ill. She must be particularly 

 careful of herself this winter. I cannot help suspecting 

 that her fever may have been occasioned by too much 

 exertion, and some anxiety respecting the charming 

 poem she has lately written. I find the manuscript was 

 dispatched to London the same day it came to the hands 

 of Mr. VVm. Roscoe, and it was as quickly printed ; but 

 the motion of the French Emperor was quicker still ! 

 The poem, however, will sustain its own fame whatever 

 may become of Emperors and their Thrones! And the 

 freedom of the mind is beyond the reach of the former 

 and more exalted than the latter ! Or, io pt osify the fair 

 poet's words — it is in vain to restrain the Soul of 

 Freedom." He followed with some very kindly criticism 

 and with a final verse of his own, and continued, " I am 

 not afraid that the author is in danger of being spoil'd 

 by any praise which may be bestow'd — such a mind must 

 be well poised as it is well stored ! " This letter to 

 Harriett and some previous criticisms drew a letter from 

 Felicia herself, the first she had sent to her elderly critic, 



