Page:Eight Friends of the Great - WP Courtney.djvu/75

 Rh took lord Thurlow to Romney's studio and he proved a very good friend to the artist. On another his eloquence brought George Selwvn to see Hay ley who " was much pleased with the courteous old man." Later in that year of 1787 Hayley on another visit to London took rooms, " airy and tranquil," immediately over Warner's set. He was again under the same roof with his friend during the winter of 1788 — 89, when the object of his visit to London was to encourage and assist Romney. When Hayley brought out in 1789 his novel of " The young widow or the history of Cornelia Sedley," his agent with the book- seller was Warner, who displayed such business faculty in the transaction that the author received the sum of £200 for his manuscript. Needless to say that the purchaser lost by his bargain. Warner, " the studious and sprightly," was in need in June 1789 of a change to quiet country life and Hayley fitted up a " cell " for him in a gardener's old quarters. " That room having been cleaned and whitewashed makes a most cheerful and quiet apartment for a studious hermit, and there the good doctor" writes his host "is now settling himself to read and write about ten hours a day." Unfor- tunately for his health he abandoned the use of tobacco and wine, in imitation of Hayley who remonstrated in vain, for " both had contributed not a little to his excellent health and to his florid and comely appearance." A " low obstinate fever " was the result of this precipitate experi- ment and the recluse speedily repaired to London to resume his old habits. While sojourning in this retreat of Eartham he was wont to preach in its parish church to an audience augmented by the attraction of his sermons. Hayley's experience of this intimacy emphasised his conviction that " Warner was pleasant and useful in no common degree. He was a good classical scholar, and perfectly master