troubles, God send you thro' 'em with patience. I conjure you dream not
that I will ever think of being repaid! the very word is galling to the
ears. I have read all your Rel. Musings with uninterrupted feelings of
profound admiration. You may safely rest your fame on it. The best
remain'g things are what I have before read, and they lose nothing by my
recollection of your manner of reciting 'em, for I too bear in mind "the
voice, the look" of absent friends, and can occasionally mimic their
manner for the amusement of those who have seen 'em. Your impassioned
manner of recitation I can recall at any time to mine own heart, and to
the ears of the bystanders. I rather wish you had left the monody on C.
concluding as it did abruptly. It had more of unity.--The conclusion of
your R Musings I fear will entitle you to the reproof of your Beloved
woman, who wisely will not suffer your fancy to run riot, but bids you
walk humbly with your God. The very last words "I exercise my young
noviciate tho't in ministeries of heart-stirring song," tho' not now new
to me, cannot be enough admired. To speak politely, they are a well
turnd compliment to Poetry. I hasten to read Joan of Arc, &c. I have
read your lines at the begin'g of 2d book, they are worthy of Milton,
but in my mind yield to your Rel Mus'gs. I shall read the whole
carefully and in some future letter take the liberty to particularize my
opinions of it. Of what is new to me among your poems next to the
Musings, that beginning "My Pensive Sara" gave me most pleasure: the
lines in it I just alluded to are most exquisite--they made my sister
and self smile, as conveying a pleasing picture of Mrs. C. chequing your
wild wandrings, which we were so fond of hearing you indulge when among
us. It has endeared us more than any thing to your good Lady; and your
own self-reproof that follows delighted us. 'Tis a charming poem
throughout. (You have well remarked that "charming, admirable,
exquisite" are words expressive of feelings, more than conveying of
ideas, else I might plead very well want of room in my paper as excuse