Georgiana Shipley Hare-Naylor to Benjamin Franklin, May 1, 1779
Bolton Street May 1st 1779
As another opportunity offers of conveying a letter to my dear Doctor Franklin, I cannot resist the strong inclination I feel of once more writing to you, especially as I flatter myself that you still retain your former friendship & partiality for this family, & consequently that you will be always glad to hear from any part of it.
Since you left England I am grown a very great politician, after this open declaration you will perhaps expect some account of our public affairs, but prudence requires me to be silent on the subject.
I fancy it will not now be long before we visit Twyford, no alterations have been made there since your departure, your Summer-house remains in the same state; I wish there was any probability of your occupying it again, but I dare not allow myself to think that such an happiness is reserved for us.
I know of no late publications worth recommending to you; Johnson’s lives of the English Poets is a new work & admired by those whom, I have heard mention it, although it is in parts tainted with his own odious political principles. 5
Monsieur de la Bussiere will have the pleasure of delivering this letter into your hands, he came to England strongly recommended to us, & we are much pleased with the little we have seen of him, he appears a modest pretty sort of young Man, & very ambitious of being personally known to you; indeed the terms in which he spoke of you, prejudiced us greatly in his favor. 6
The American Squirrel is still living, & much caress’d; poor fellow! he is grown quite old & has lost his eye-sight, but nevertheless preserves his spirits & wonted activity. 7 Numberless are the prints & medals we have seen of you, but none that I quite approve, should you have a good picture painted at Paris, a miniature copied from it, would make me the happiest of beings, & next to that, a lock of your own dear grey hair would give me the greatest pleasure; my father has had a wax model taken of him, it is not yet finished, but if it should prove like, I will manage to send you one, in the mean time I enclose a shade, 8 which I think you will be pleased with, he never mentions your name without tenderness & admiration; & often laments, that one part of his share in the public misfortunes is to have lost the enjoyment of the most valuable friendship he ever made. Doctor Priestley & Doctor Price two sincere friends & admirers of yours, dined here yesterday when your health was drank with pleasure by the whole company. Anna Maria is impatient to hear whether you have received a few lines, she sent by Gen. Verdiere.
If I have encroached too much upon your time, pray forgive me; for while I am writing to you the respect & deference due to so great a character is almost lost in the love & affection I feel for an old friend, whose indulgence I have often experienced, & whose esteem it will ever be my pride & happiness to deserve. My Mother & Sisters are well, & unite in good wishes. I am Your gratefull & affecate
Georgiana Shipley
The ode I send is much admired. The subject has animated the Poet.