1 8 Nicholson, Hemans — Nicholson Correspondettce. 



this for the present should be postponed. Meanwhile perhaps she will 

 think it best to avoid rousing the passions by declamation and to 

 persevere in interesting descriptions and undisputed Morals and in 

 captivating appeals to the heart and affections. She must make us 

 better before we can admire as we ought her best works. I don't 

 know whether I should allow any young man to say these things to 

 herself; yet she has deceived an old one if she is not out of the reach 

 of Injury." 



At the same time Mr. Nicholson replied to one of 

 Felicia's letters which has not been preserved : — 



•'I rejoice with you, my dear Miss Browne, that your brother 

 George is safe and well here, and that your anxiety on his account in 

 future is likely to be lessen'd. It was my intention when first I saw 

 him to write to you by him a long letter ; but the pleasures of his 

 society and other matters have put it out of my power. Not that I 

 perceive any irregular luxuriance ' to be temper'd in the wild enthusiasm 

 of fifteen ' now happily attained to sixteen ! or any ' improvement ' that 

 it is in my power to bestow. I have had a rich feast in your letter and 

 the productions of your Muse. Heber's Poems which you mention I 

 have not yet got to see ; and Mrs. Carter's Life I feel fresh desire to 

 read because of your warm admiration of her character." 



Then he goes on to tell that he had recently read 

 * Coelebs', " a jumble of good things," though he deplored 

 the author's " degraded idea of human nature." Writing 

 to Harriett at the same time, Mr. Nicholson says : — 



" As I have let your Brother into some of my secrets I may as 

 well tell you and get you on my side to plead forgiveness from your 

 Sister for having copied some of her Poems into a book of the same 

 size of her printed Works. I shall not suffer them out of my sight, and 

 if you do not gain forgiveness for me, I must some time lay the sacrifice 

 at the Author's feet." 



The book to which Mr. Nicholson refers is now in 

 my possession. 



When George Browne went to Bronwhilfa after seeing 

 Mr. Nicholson, he had fully resolved to break with his 

 military life. His mother reported to Mr. Nicholson that 

 " Our young heroine is amongst the first to rejoice in his 

 resolution, to avail himself of an opening for something 



