Page:Eight Friends of the Great - WP Courtney.djvu/74

 54 monument to John Howard " which Warner thought he had identified as the composition of Miss Seward. This was an error ; the lines were by Samuel Jackson Pratt, a still more dreary bard in that generation, who sets out in his "Gleanings" vol I p. 226 et seq. a long conversation with Howard on the subject. As a consequence of this erroneous belief the Swan of Lichfield and the Hermit of Barnard's Inn were drawn together and soon became friends. " The ingenious, benevolent and energetic Dr. Warner " the lady required at least three epithets for an ally, passed a few days in Lichfield in the autumn of 1786. From that year until March 1791 they corresponded and Warner sent her some " delightful letters," which no doubt contained many a stratum of flattery. Silence then ensued but Miss Seward still thought of her friend. She enquired of everybody about him. " Nobody tells me where he is " was her exclamation in November of 1794. Through this friendship the Doctor was admitted into the circle surrounding William Hayley, her colleague in the art of puffery. Mr. Alfred Morrison was the proud owner of the rough copy of a letter and notes, seven and a half quarto pages in length, which that poet sent in 1786 to Warner on the subject of John Howard's statue. This subject was the beginning of their intimacy and as Warner loved to enjoy the friendship of others he retained the acquaintance until his death. In April of the following year Hayley came from his retreat in Sussex to stay with his new friend in the rooms at Barnard's Inn. The poet's favourite term for them was the "cell"; the pet title for his host was "dear rambling divine." At one time it looked as if this place of retreat would be lost to him, but fortunately the fire caused by the Gordon riots stopped at the next door. In these rooms Warner every morning, between six and seven, made breakfast for him and for Romney the painter. On one occasion Warner