Add MS 38887

"TWO MEMORIALS of Hayley's Endeavours to serve his Friend Cowper," by William Hayley. Holograph. These memorials, especially the second, are treated by E. Dowden in The Atlantic Monthly, vol. c (1907), p. 74, and illustrated with many extracts. They comprise: (a) "A singular History in a Series of Letters from a Father to his Son, 1794," recounting Hayley's efforts, ultimately successful, to secure a pension for the poet Cowper. Correspondence with Thurlow, Pitt and Lord Spencer is quoted in full, and extracts of letters from S. Rose and Rev. S. Greatheed. There are verses by Hayley addressed to Miss Catherine Thurlow, f. 19, Lord Thurlow, ff. 29, 34, and Pitt, ff. 44, 52. f. 2; (b) "The Second Memorial . . . containing a minute Account of devices employed to restore his dejected spirits" : copies of correspondence of Hayley and of Cowper's other friends, from June, 1797, with an introductory letter to Rev. John Johnson, July, 1809. The chief writers besides Hayley are Cowper's cousins, Harriet, Lady Hesketh, and Rev. John Johnson. Letters to Cowper from W. Wilberforce and the Bishops of London (Beilby Porteus) and Llandaff (Richard Watson) are on ff. 186, 188, 205. The originals of the Hayley- Hesketh letters (except the last few) are in Add. MS. 30803A, ff. 2-26, but none of the Hesketh-Johnson correspondence appears in Letters of Lady Hesketh to Rev. John Johnson, 1901. On f. 206 b is a letter from Hayley to Thurlow, asking preferment for Johnson, 16 Aug. 1804, followed by Thurlow's reply. The apparent recovery of Cowper in 1800 drew forth Hayley's sonnet on f. 247. f. 118. Paper ; ff. ii + 249. Small quarto. Lot 172 of the Hayley Correspondence (Sotheby's sale-cat, 20 May, 1878). Bookplate of F. W. Cosens, F.S.A. (sale-cat. 1890, part of lot 173). Dowden sale, lot 87.

William Hayley, poet: Memorials of his endeavours to serve his friend Cowper: 1794, 1809.: Hologr.

Harriet Hesketh, widow of Sir T Hesketh, 1st Baronet: Correspondence with W. Hayley and Rev. J. Johnson rel. to Cowper: 1797-1799.: Copies.

Reverend John Johnson, LLD, d. 1833: Correspondence with W. Hayley and Lady Hesketh rel. to Cowper: 1797.: Copies.

William Cowper, poet: Memorials of W. Hayley's services to: 1794-1809.

includes:

• f. 19 Catherine Thurlow: Verses to, by W. Hayley: 1792.
• ff. 29, 34, 206 b Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow; Lord Chancellor: Letters and poems to, from W. Hayley: 1792, 1804.
• ff. 29, 34, 44, 52, 247 Poetry: Verses by W. Hayley: 1792-1800.
• ff. 29, 34, 44, 52, 247 William Hayley, poet: Verses: 1792-1800.
• ff. 44. 45 52, 91 William Pitt, Prime Minister: Verses and letters to, from W. Hayley: 1792-1794.
• ff. 79-89, 101, 105 George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer: Correspondence with W. Hayley rel. to Cowper: 1794.: Copies.
• ff. 94,148, 153 Samuel Rose, barrister: Correspondence with W. Hayley: 1794, 1797.: Copies.
• f. 96 Reverend Samuel Greatheed: Letter to W. Hayley: 1794.: Extract.
• f. 186 William Wilberforce, MP: Letter to W. Cowper: 1797.: Copy.
• f. 188 Beilby Porteus, Bishop of Chester and (1787) of London: Letter to. W Cowper 1797.: Copy.
• ff. 197, 203 Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff: Correspondence with W. Hayley rel. to Cowper: 1797.: Copies.
• f. 205 Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff: Letter to W. Cowper: 1797.: Copy.
• f. 207 b Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow; Lord Chancellor: Letter to W. Hayley: 1804.: Copy.