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Alice Bemis Taylor Collection, Ms 0145

Ann Yearsley letter.
Transcribed by Kerri Andrews, 2008.

[In other ink] Septr [unclear] 13 [unclear] 569

Madam,

I shall begin by avowing what my feelings will never allow me to be insensible of; your goodness in protecting my publication; had your subsequent conduct proved that protection had arisen from the humanity my situation and the distress of my family naturally would awaken in the breast of a woman sensible of the feelings of a mother and concious [sic] of the honours of having dependants; my gratitude would have known no bounds, to have ones children dependant on us is a natural desire; it is a laudable one; to usurp that power over individuals either by imposing on their generosity or ignorance, is most degrading;

I wish’d not for money but to enable me to bring up my children in comfort and improvement and had you been actuated by a disinterested desire to [second?] my wishes, my sense of your benevolence could never have been erased, but your late treatment has set a narrow bounds to my Gratitude, which cannot be avowd for favours these circumstances convince me arrose [sic] more from your vanity than Generosity you tasc [sic] me with ingratitude, you reproach me with obligation; for why? you found me poor yet proud, if it can be calld pride to feel too much humbled by certain obligations and above submitting to servility

You helpd to place me in the public eye. my success you think beyond my abilities; and purely arising from your protection; I wish not to lessen your favours; but granting this to your vanity; surely mine does not Soar in thinking the singularity of my situation would have secured me some success; this will soon be tried.

And let me ask you what I have gained by your professt friendship? I find myself deprivd of the money which my poems and the torturing tale of my distress have raised; my feelings and gratitude is traduced but the public may yet discover my depressd situation.

I wish not to squander the money my every hope of future pleases this side eternity; centers in my children; but I wish not to divest myself either of the pleasure or Right I have by nature; and I repeat it, as the money was collected in my name and for the purpose of relieving my childrens wants; the right was mine to educate and set them in life as their dispositions may in future determine; the public generously intended the money for this benevolent purpose and I cannot think it ingratitude to disown as obligation a proceeding which must render [my surviving Children?] [unclear] your poor dependants forever; I have trusted more to your probity than the event justifies; you have led me to sign a settlement which defrauds me and my family of our right and make it if ever receiv’d your peculiar Gift, you are too sensible there is no fund specified where it is placed nor do I know how it is disposed of, there is no time assign’d when my children shall call it out your bankruptcy or Death may lose it forever, and let me ask you Miss More what security you have ever given my children whereby they may prove their future claim? I am [unclear] my [remonstrance?] should be needful or your motives left bare to doubt or suspicion.

My mind is haughty, but too justly so not to glory in being ever grateful for obligation it could stoop to recieve [sic] if I have misjudged your conduct; ’tis yours to confute my opinions; it depends on this, my raising an instrument in my second publication either to your just or unjust proceeding; the choice be yours ______

I am yr humble servant

Ann Yearsley



Alice Bemis Taylor Collection
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