Holcroft was, it will be remembered, an accomplished and successful writer for the Theatre, he knew what would and would not succeed far better than did Godwin, however superior were the literary powers of the latter. Hence when Godwin submitted his piece to Wroughton, then Manager of Drury Lane Theatre, it was not unnatural that while admitting the great ability of much in the play, the criticism. on the whole was unfavourable. "Your character of Benedetto (to sport a vulgar phrase) dies Dunghill," wrote Wroughton, "and Orsini might, I think, satisfactorily be kept alive."

Thereupon Godwin sent the play to Holcroft to touch it up for the stage, who, acting on the instructions given, remodelled the whole, and re-wrote from Godwin's materials a considerable portion. But "Faulkener" failed, and great was the wrath which fell on the devoted friend, whose forbearance under the storm was dignified and commendable.

The letters during this year, which are appended, need no explanation.

William Godwin to Thomas Wedgwood.

"POLYGON, April 14. 1804.

"DEAR WEDGWOOD,—It is with the utmost reluctance of feeling that I obtrude on you the following statement.

"I know not whether I am entitled to the possession of several opulent friends: this has been almost universally the lot of persons of as much literary publicity as myself: it has been my fortune never, except you, to have had one.

Among the various measures which, since I have become the father of a family, I have had recourse to for their support, one which inevitably suggested itself was the theatre; a resource which is, if successful, I believe usually found more productive

than any other. I applied myself with great diligence to the exper aunt I made in that way four years ago: as has always been my habit, I proceeded not merely on my own judgment but consulted my friends. The production I ultimately brought forth, though perhaps in one or two points not sufficiently adapted for popularity on the stage, cost me more thought proportionally, and is perhaps more finished, than any other of my writings.

"It was however necessary that I and my family should subsist while I prepared the experiment. A young man not opulent, but who had then some money at his command, spontaneously lent me £100 for that purpose. My experiment was unsuccessful, and the money was never repaid. Mrs Godwin and myself will, I believe, not be found deficient in industry. I by original works, and she by translation, contrive fully, or nearly, to support a numerous family in decency, but this is all we can do.

"Unhappily the young man who so generously assisted me is since fallen into great embarrassments, and has become liable to arrests and the other difficulties arising from these embarrassments. He has never asked me for his money, he would never accept any memorandum or acknowledgment that it was due. Yet how can I bear to think that he wants money so cruelly, while I am in this manner his debtor? I hope I could almost perish, sooner than apply to you for further assistance for myself, but in this case, to use the ordinary phraseology, I would move heaven and earth to acquit myself. If I had any other resource that I could imagine or invent, you should not have been troubled with this ungracious intrusion.

"Yet my dear friend, consult your own convenience in this case. I am sure you would assist me if that would permit. But this is no claim upon you, whatever it is on me.

Though it is now a very long time since I have heard from, or seen you, yet I have occasionally the satisfaction, I wish I could say the pleasure, of hearing concerning you from Tobin, Coleridge, and others. The last opportunity of this sort was a letter by you to Coleridge a short time before his departure, in which you spoke of your health as being a little better than it had been

LETTER FROM WEDGWOOD.

some time before. What pleasure would it afford to on and to every one that knows you, could we have a well-grounded puspect of its being ultimately restored. With sincere afection

Thomas Wedgwood to William Godwin

“GOSTILLA, April 15, thos

"DEAR GODWIN,-I am so unwilling to leave you in a moment's suspense, for I give you full credit for the reluctant scrupla you express—that I shall not defer a post to get a stamp for a frat bun give you the trouble of calling personally on Mr Howslip York Street on Wednesday next at 3, who will deliver you a bote sodtaining the £100. I have adopted this mode to prevent a personal application from you at the Bank, which I conceived might be dis agreeable, and it also secures from danger of loss by post, and Mr Howslip will not have the least idea of the nature of our transaction.

this same.

And now let me beg of you to set your mind perfectly at ease. I will tell you honestly what I have felt, and always feel, on the occasion. I have no opinion of the good, upon the whole, resulting from great facility in the opulent, in yielding to requests of the needy. I have no doubt but that it is best that every one should anticipate with certainty the pinch and pressure of distress from indulging in indolence, or even from misfortune. It is this certainty which quickens the little wit that man is ordinarily endowed with, and calls out all his energies: and were it removed by the idea that the rich held funds for the distressed, I am convinced that not only half the industry of the country would be destroyed, but also that misfortune would be doubled in quantity. I confess to you then, that I have always a doubt of the value of any donation or loan. At the same time, I have the strongest desire to give relief to suffering, and an excessive repugnance to that hardness of heart, that vicious inclination to hoard,—to that depraved state of mind which enables me to view sufferings with calmness, if not with indifference, whilst I should never miss the sum that would instantly relieve them. In the case of the

applicant being a friend, you may imagine that the inclination to yield is doubled at least. In the present case, I was extremely moved at the fervour of your determination never again to apply to me for yourself, and in feeling swore a great oath that it should be your own fault if you did not. I could not bear the idea of your struggling day after day with new perplexities. I passed your life hastily in review, and renewed my assurance of the soundness of your princples. I am not speaking of your politics or philosophy on these subjects I have no sentiments of any assurance, but I am speaking of the goodness of your moral feelings, your subjection to the dictates, erroneous or otherwise, of a moral conscience.

"And I do therefore invite you to still consider me as your friend in every honourable sense of the word. You have placed me in a most ambiguous capacity. I have an excellent friend in T. W., you say he is the man I should rely upon in a moment of distress, only that I feel that I cannot ask him to make the smallest personal sacrifice for my advantage.

"I wish you may seize the spirit of my confessions, for I really cannot stay the process of writing one moment for a more explicit and luminous statement. I write in pain and great distraction of mind, knowing the injury I do myself. I feel most gratefully your kind wishes for my health. Without indulging an unmanly despondency, I may say after some years continued struggle, I see no prospect of permanent amendment. I left town a day or two after you saw me in Bedford Row. Let me have a line from you when

you have received the £100.

"With the sincerest wishes for your happiness, I remain, dear Godwin, faithfully and cordially yours,

THOS. WEDGWOOD."

Thomas Holcroft to William Godwin.

66

Sep. 25, 1804.

I am sorry that a

"I am sorry our feelings are not in unison. work which cost me such deep thought, and was, in my own opinion, so happily executed, should excite in your mind nothing but the chaos of which you inform me. I came up to town with

MRS GODWIN'S GRANDCHILDREN.

127

a high hope of having rendered my friend an essential service, with which, when he saw it, he would be delighted, and would perfectly understand all the emotions which passed in my mind, while stimulated by such an endearing reflection. I must bear my disappointment as well as I can, and have only to request that, since you think all conference must produce painful sensations, you will either adopt the piece as I have sent it you (which I by no means wish, since you think as you do), or put the whole of it into your own language. I don't in the least expect, after your long hesitation, that it corresponds with your ideas of good writing, for which I am sorry, but I hope that you will not think it unreasonable that I should object to that which your judgment shall direct, unless I could be made acquainted with it. I hope I have not spent my time wholly unprofitably, since you cannot be insensible that my zeal to serve you effectually has been great. Respecting the £20, we were much distressed last week, but shall not be this, or the next. The week after, I am afraid, it may still prove inconvenient to you, though I know we shall be very short. Louisa mends so slowly, that my mind is quite uneasy. I came up to town with high hopes of various kinds, but hope was always a sad deceiver, and the error of my life is that of being too sanguine. Forgive me that Fanny copies this. She copied the tragedy, and it was inevitable she should know the whole transaction. T. HOLCROFT.”

"DEAR WILLIAM AND MARY,-You must excuse my incorrectness in writing. I can scarce write, my memory is so bad. I can say no more about Harriet than I have in a former letter. I am the unhappy grandmother of such naughty children, and must say that the parents are as much to blame as their children, for that they have set no better guard on them, and instructed them no better, have Idled away their own time on Sabbath days. . . . In answer to yours, relating to young John, I'm much obleged to you that you show such frendship to him. I purpose sending you and