Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/256

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204
LIFE OF WILLIAM BLAKE.
[1804—1805.


at about 12 o'clock; the servant said that he remains very ill indeed.

Mr, Walker I have been so unfortunate as not to find at home, but I will call again in a day or two. Neither Mr, Flaxman nor Mr, Edwards know Lady Hamilton's address: the house which Sir William lived in, in Piccadilly, she left some time ago. Mr. Edwards will procure her address for you, and I will send it immediately. I have inclosed for you the twenty-two numbers of Fuseli's Shakespeare that are out, and the book of Italian Letters from Mrs, Flaxman who with her admirable husband present their best compliments to you. He is so busy that I believe I shall never see him again but when I call on him; for he has never yet, since my return to London, had the time or grace to call on me. Mrs. Flaxman and her sister give also their testimony to my likeness of Romney. Mr. Flaxman I have not yet had an opportunity of consulting about it, but soon will.

I inclose likewise the Academical Correspondence of Mr. Hoare the Painter, whose note to me I also inclose. For I did but express to him my desire of sending you a copy of his work, and the day after I received it with the note expressing his pleasure in your wish to see it. You would be much delighted with the man, as I assure myself you will be with his work.

The plates of Cowper's monument are both in great forwardness and you shall have proofs in another week. I assure you that I will not spare pains, and am myself very much satisfied that I shall do my duty and produce two elegant Plates, There is, however, a great deal of work on them that must and will have time.

'Busy, busy, busy, I bustle along
Mounted upon warm Phœbus' ray
Thro' the heavenly throng.'

But I hastened to write to you about Mr. Braithwaite. Hope when I send my proofs to give as good an account of Mr. Walker.

My wife joins me in respects and love to you and desires with mine to present hers to Miss Poole.

The medallion by Thomas Hayley mentioned above was eventually given in the Life, but not from Blake's hand. It was drawn by Maria Denman, Flaxman's sister-in-law, and engraved by Caroline Watson.