pg 476243. W. W. to LUPTON RELFE¹

• Address: L. Relfe Esq^re, 13 Cornhill, London. [In M. W.'s hand]
• Postmark: 31 July 1826.
• Stamp: New St.
• MS. Cornell.
• LY i. 249.

• Rydal Mount
• 25^th July 1826

Dear Sir,

I have to thank you for an elegant large Copy of your Friendship's Offering, and for an accompanying letter dated far back, though I only received the parcel a week or two ago, and have since been too much engaged to do justice to a work of such promise. I have however read most of the Poetry, and have been much pleased with several pieces both of the Editor² and the Contributors. Your Book is designed principally for the sofa Table, and appears to me admirably adapted to that purpose—both in its embellishments and the mode in which the Authors have executed their part of the Task. It would be, as you will conjecture, something more to my particular taste, if it were less for that of the fine world—if it pressed closer upon common life—but this would not suit the market—therefore you will do well to go on as you have begun under the auspices of the present able Editor. Will he excuse me if I mention that the arrangement of miscellaneous poems is of consequence—it either may greatly aid or much spoil their effect—For instance, Mr Montgomery's serious and even solemn Lines are unluckily followed by a smart jeu d'esprit of one of the Smith's, and the two poems,³ though both very good in their several ways, strangle each other. Another Poem, one of Mr Hervey's, has many sweet lines, but it is unfortunately entitled on a Picture of a dead Girl—instead of a Girl since dead. Such a title reminds one of Pictures of dead Game—these are trifles, but of most (p. 477) pg 477importance to the class of readers whom your Book will best suit. With many thanks for this obliging token of your remembrance

I remain dear Sir

• faithfully yours      
• Wm Wordsworth