ABSTRACT
Eliza Louisa Emmerson. Mrs Emmerson (1782–1847), the wife of a London picture importer, became Clare’s most frequent, tireless, and tiresome correspondent. Her poem to Clare, dated in manuscript 30 January 1820 (Eg. 2245, fol. 33), was published in the Morning Post, 8 February 1820, entitled ‘Lines written by a Lady, and Presented with a volume of “Clare’s Poems” to a Noble Friend.’ The noble friend was none other than Admiral Lord Radstock (1753–1825), who rewarded Clare with a copy of Blair’s Sermons. Mrs Emmerson, signing herself ‘A Constant Reader’, urged the Morning Post to insert specimens of Poems Descriptive in order to induce ‘the liberal encouragers of genius to snatch from impending misery this wonderful Child of Nature! so, that by degrees, he might be raised from the lowly and lost situation in which he now stands; not only for himself, but indeed, I may almost say, still more so for the world’. The poem’s final line is taken from the end of Clare’s poem, ‘Helpstone’. Oh! take this little volume to thy care— And be the friend of Genius—and of ‘Clare!’ There Nature’s dictates, unadorn’d by art, She sweetly tells; and powerful, doth impart Those moral precepts—in such simple strain We read—we wonder—and respect the swain. Hail! native genius! bred in lowly vale, May’st thou be cherish’d by a fostering gale. Ye friends to genius! early succour yield And pluck this wild flower from the common field— Transplant it to a soil more genial, warm, Where by fond culture it each sense may charm; Oh! nurse this minstrel! Nature’s simple child ‘That he may sing his wood-notes sweet and wild,’ To charm the ear, to glad the feeling heart, And to the mind, new beauties to impart; Let not such talent pine in shades away— Oh, call the labourer forth to brighter day! 58But should alas! such succour not be lent ‘He’ll put up with distress—and be content’.
