ABSTRACT
Eliza Emmerson to Clare, 10 July 1820, Eg. 2245, fol. 168. Similar advice was given by Taylor on 12 February 1820, ‘I think you will find old Poetry more powerful than the new in stimulating you to fresh Performances—there was so much more truth in the old Poets—they looked and thought for themselves;—but I would not give you any advice on what you should do—you will feel your own way best’ (Eg. 2245, fol. 38). Clare was soon writing pastiches of the older poets, which he 128sent to newspapers as rediscovered poems by Marvell, Sir John Wotton, and so on. There was even talk of a collection being made of such pieces, for publication. In this extract, Mrs Emmerson refers him to Percy’s Reliques:
