Tomb of Eliza Draper in Bristol Cathedral.
THE JOURNAL TO ELIZA
THIS Journal wrote under the fictitious names of Yorick & Draper—and sometimes of the Bramin & Bramine—but ’tis a Diary of the miserable feelings of a person separated from a Lady for whose Society he languish’d—The real Names—are foreign—& the acct. a copy from a french Manst.—in Mr. S——’s hands—but wrote as it is, to cast a Viel over them—There is a Counterpart—which is the Lady’s acct. what transactions daily happend—& what Sentiments occupied her mind, during this Separation from her admirer—these are worth reading—the translator cannot say so much in favr. of Yoricks which seem to have little merit beyond their honesty & truth.[[21]]
CONTINUATION OF THE BRAMINES JOURNAL.
([S]he saild 23[[22]])
Sunday Ap: 13.[[23]]
WROTE the last farewel to Eliza by Mr. Wats who sails this day for Bombay—inclosed her likewise the Journal kept from the day we parted, to this—so from hence continue it till the time we meet again—Eliza does the same, so we shall have mutual testimonies to deliver hereafter to each other, That the Sun has not more constantly rose & set upon the earth, than we have thought of & remember’d, what is more chearing than Light itself—eternal Sunshine! Eliza!—dark to me is all this world without thee! & most heavily will every hour pass over my head, till that is come wch. brings thee, dear Woman back to Albion. Dined with Hall &c. at the brawn’s head—the whole Pandamonium assembled—supp’d together at Halls—worn out both in body & mind, & paid a severe reckoning all the night.