1808 January 27

Eliza Fenwick, [Skinner Street], to Mary Hays, 3 Park Street, Islington, Tuesday [27 January 1808].¹

Tuesday

Rely on it my dear Mary that no obstacle shall prevent my executing your commission & in all points to as exact a degree as I find possible.

Going by sea it seems is utterly out of the question a Belfast Vessel sails tomorrow & no more go for a month or six weeks to come, so that independent of the risque the time renders it impossible to make that attempt. The managers hurry us excessively, & came last night to beg we would set off either friday or Sunday at the latest, but I must perforce leave it till Wednesday for I have nothing ready. I assure you my heart aches very severely for the expences are so enormous, & after all you & Henry Robinson have done for me it seems dreadful to hope for more. But you know it is no wanton waste, & the establishment it secures is your reward. No sort of thing she will want for the line of parts she is to play can be got there but at enormous prices & perhaps not ^at^ all, therefore she must make as it were a two-years supply. I am promised letters of recommendation to a family who have a large estate in the neighbourhood of Belfast & who will be likely to gain her great patronage. Her course is a very smooth & easy one when we are once there. The Managers shew many marks of friendly intention towards us & one of them when he called yesterday gave Lanno 2 shillings. I mention this to shew you we may fairly indulge hopes of kind & generous treatment.

I have written to Hen^y Robinson & beg’d him to call on me. I am very anxious to get all things arrang’d this week because then I shall not go off in such perturbation of spirits & be so unequal to the fatigue of the Journey.

Poor M^r F. is ill with the gout Lanno must go & be his nurse. I shall leave many ^sources^ of anxiety behind me & you believe me are not the least of them. I will see you after executing my commission but it will not at earliest be before Sunday. I cannot promise to dine with you for I am tied here (Skinner Street) till after Saturday

Peace be with you. Would I could restore it to you.

Y^rs most truly

E Fenwick

You talk so kindly of trying to aid me further² that I will observe if it is within your compass, the sooner, the more advantageous. I can only shew my gratitude by my affection but if you could fully know how perfectly you have turned the current of my destiny it w^d soothe your mind.

Address: Miss Hays | Park Street N^o 3. | Islington

Postmark: 27 January

¹ Fenwick Family Papers, Correspondence, 1798-1855, New York Historical Library; Wedd, Fate of the Fenwicks 23-24; not in Brooks, Correspondence.

² See previous letter for comments on the monies raised for Fenwick by Hays and Crabb Robinson.