Ma7icliester Memoirs, Vol. liv. (1910), A^^. 9. 23 



The reply was prompt. On 21st December, 18 10, 

 Mr. Nicholson wrote to " My dear Felicia," and made full 

 apologies for his neglect. 



" You know not what a terrible thing it is to be overwhehiied in 

 debt — you who are in the habit of conferring favours ! When I look 

 back and find not a trace of one word written to you this whole year, 

 I can scarcely believe myself to have l)een so ungrateful and am quite 

 ashamed to plead the apologies which have at times satisfied my idle 

 inattention. But the gentleness of your rebuke has roused me to an 

 assertion of the truth in the main point of our quarrel. Indeed, 

 indeed I have never forgotten you, nor since the 13th of August has 

 a day passed without interesting recollections of what I then saw and 

 heard. The smartness of your raillery convinces me that you cannot 

 be seriously offended and that though you have nothing to be forgiven, 

 yet you have learned to forgive others. The next thing I can do 

 towards deserving your pardon is to fulfil, as well as I can, the 

 promise I believe I made to send you some account of the Exhibition 

 of Paintings, &c., upon the opening in August last of the Liverpool 

 Academy." 



This he proceeds to do at considerable length. This 

 letter was "sent unfinished by Mr. George Bainbridge, 

 2 1st December, 18 10, with an Eagle's quill, and Lord 

 Byron's Satire on ' English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,' 

 both for F. D. B., and also a letter to Mrs. Browne, and 

 another to Harriett Mary B." A letter to Mrs. Browne 

 also refers to the visit. 



" Permit me then to offer my best thanks for your civilities and for 

 introducing me to the acquaintance of your daughter Fehcia. 



I have now distinct ideas of your domestic proceedings and your 

 surrounding scenery, and whenever I walk on the hill at Everton, 

 which I do almost daily, I have little but a mortifying distance to 

 intercept my sight of your sweet wood Nymphs which I think is a name 

 of your suggesting. The cordiality of Felicia's reception and Harriett's 

 very kind recollection of me have left very vivid images on my mind 

 and interest my best feelings. I was lately much grieved on hearing 

 that Robert I^oardman my Nephew had passed through St. Asaph to a 

 ship on shore near Rhidlan without my knowing it, and I was almost 

 angry when I found on his return that he had recollected your living 

 at Bronwhilfa and had not sent to know if you could acquaint me that 

 you were all well. ... I fear Messrs. C. & D. are not to be 

 roused in the cause of your publications. I do not often see Messrs. 



