38 Nicholson, Hemans — Nicholson Correspondence. 



lead me to say a great deal to him. But I will not determine till we 

 hear from you again. And now, my dear Sir, let me express all our 

 regrets that your health is not so good as our best wishes towards you 

 would have it. Do think seriously of trying this air, when the warm 

 weather arrives. Every thing that grateful friendship could do, should 

 be exerted by me and your two young friends, to contribute to your 

 health and comfort and there is a certain young man of our circle, who 

 would be happy to unite his zeal, to that of our family party, in 

 showing kindness to Felicia's invaluable and highly valued friend. 

 Do give us some hope that this little plan might be practicable and you 

 will believe that it would delight us all. 



From what you say of Lucien's ' Charlemagne," it must be a heavy 

 work indeed and Felicia would not like it. But I wish something 

 worth translating from the Spanish miglit occur. She has made herself 

 mistress of that language and likes it much. . . We are impatiently 

 expecting to hear from Quebec, after an interval of several months. 

 Accept the assurance of best esteem, and believe me, my dear Sir, 

 \'our deeply obliged and faithful 



F. D. Browne." 



Felicia recovered very slowly from her illness, but in 

 May, 18 1 2, she and Mr. Hemans were interesting them- 

 selves on the result of a joint speculation in lottery tickets. 

 The last letter I have of this correspondence is dated 5 th 

 July, 1812, and is from Mrs. Browne.* 



" My Dear Sir,— 



Felicia begs you to accept a copy of the lines she has lately 

 written to Lord Wellington and she hopes to hear from you by the 

 bearer. The long expected letters from Mr. Browne are at last arrived 

 and I suppose that a certain event will take place in about a montli, or 

 five weeks. On this occasion I am sure you will give your best wishes 

 for your young friend, and I hope the same regard you have hitherto 

 shown to her, will be continued y2);- £t'd?r. Your friendship has always 

 been a source of pride and gratification to lier. Of the young man of 

 her choice I can only say, that he has my perfect esteem and regard 



* My brother, Mr. Albert Nicholson, has two letters written in 1 81 6 

 by Harriett Mary Browne, and addressed to Mr. Matthew Nicholson. 

 Apparently Mr. Nicholson had reopened the correspondence by writing to 

 Mrs. Hemans, commending her hymn ' Lord, from my Closet, when alone,' 

 and suggesting that it should be set to music. Harriett had taken the hint, 

 and, in replying for her sister, sent Mr. Nicholson a musical setting for the 

 hymn. His quick and critical eye or ear had detected the omission of 

 several C sharps, and he wrote to Harriett, who replied acknowledging the 

 justness of his observations, the marks having been accidentally omitted 

 from the copy. She mentions that Felicia "is much flattered" by his 

 approbation of her poem. 



