1018. W. W. to HIS FAMILY

MS. WL. Hitherto unpublished.

Wednesday morning. [25 May 1836]

My dearest Friends,

My last was sent off on Monday, I dined at Lord Lonsdale's that evening, he told me he was going down into Cumberland for a short time: If you enclosed to him I shall not get your Letter for some time. I have since heard from you again, enclosing Mr Carr's note, which I shall not deliver till I take up my quarters at Mr Henry Taylor's towards the end of this week. pg 226I hope the new carriage will suit Dora and that dearest sister may ride in it also.—Her letter must have been a great effort and I cannot say how thankful I was for it—the penmanship is not so good as that to Christopher¹ some time since, but I hope she will improve—she is not too old for it.—We have here a cold as bitter as Christmass, which prevents my right eyelid getting well. Yesterday after having squired Miss Watson through the exhibition, I went on to the Temple, called on Crabbe, Courtenay, Mr Twistleton,² Mr Graves,³ and found no one at home; then went to Pater Noster row, to see what could be done, found Mr Orme,⁴ whom I liked much better than Mr Rees, talked over the edition and he promised to send their proposals, which I anxiously expect. I then went to Charing Cross by appointment, with Mr Quillinan; when I had been there a quarter of an hour he appeared with Jemima, who was to proceed immediately with Mr Atherley,⁵ per Coach to Brighton. Jemima is heavier faced and more dumpy than ever, but her father is told this will go off. When the coach left Charing Cross Q. and I walked in Hyde Park, and at last found a seat—tolerably sheltered where we sate down and talked about an hour and a half.⁶ I then went to the Colonial off. saw Spedding, Taylor, and Mr Stephen who has again seen Mr Spring Rice who confidently assures him that I shall not be hurt. Perhaps you know that I dine with him on Sunday. This page I am writing at Mr Robinsons Chambers. I have just seen Mrs Smith⁷ at her lodgings and find her northern journey put off to August.—And now about what you call my Continental trip. I find you dearest Mary under mistake as to the intended time; and for this and other reasons I feel strongly inclined to break from all my engagements here, in a week at the latest and run down to Rydal for three weeks; for I cannot bear the thought of pg 227being so long absent from you all as I shall be, if I remain here till the 5^th of July and then start for the Continent. The objections to the scheme of going down and coming back are risk, expense, and fatigue; but I am tempted to brave these all, if you give me a word of encouragement, and pray write by return of Post, an unfranked letter and addressed to me at Mrs Marshalls, to tell me what you think, and encourage me, if you think it right, not else. If I do go abroad I should not like to have less than ten weeks. So that I feel decided altogether against going, if you don't approve of my coming down.

5 o clock Mr Watson's: on leaving Mr Robinson's I went to call on Strickland C—,¹ not at home, found Henry Coleridge—went with him to Montague's² room, he not at home, but found my old Friend Mr Dyce in his chambers, sate an hour with him, and H. C.³ walked with me to Charing Cross. I went thence to the Colonial Off. for this Frank. Miss Fenwick, you will grieve to hear is far from well, threatened with something like dropsy of the Chest. I shall hear about her again from H. T.⁴ On reaching home I found your Letter of Sunday, a thousand thanks for it and the favorable account of my dearest Sister. How comes it you did not mention Dora.—Mr Moxon expects to sell the 3000 in two years, but what if he should be disappointed—I am glad of having Mr Courtenay's Letter, and J. C.'s⁵ notes—I shall put this [?]⁶ into Strickland Cookson's hands. Here I must make special appointment, I find he is so much from home. This very hour has come in one of the Mr Nicholsons who you recollect was at Rydal with his Sister.⁷ He is most anxious to have Pickersgill's Portrait [?]⁸ and says that Cornaggie⁹ the Printseller would he was sure, gladly undertake pg 228it. In consequence I shall call upon Cornaggie and see if the scheme be practical. I find many of my friends will be greatly disappointed if this opportunity be neglected, or rather refused.

Dearest Sister write to me again, a few lines, you Dora also—In consequence of loss of time by Nicholson's call, I must conclude. I am afraid there would be risk of delay if you should enclose your answer to W^m Marshall. And I forgot to ask Mr H. Taylor's, or Spedding's permission. Therefore I think the safest way would be to write without frank to me at Mr Marshall's Grosvenor Street. I will now tell you what you must on no account repeat, and what I am ashamed to mention as it proves what fits of absence I am subject to. At Lord Lonsdale's dinner the other evening what did I do—about 20 minutes before we went up to the Ladies, while I was sitting by my Lord Lonsdale, ten gentlemen or so being present, I found myself to my own great dismay with a decanter of cold water at my mouth, having drank out of it. How it happened I cannot possibly tell; guess how confounded I was, how many of the Convives saw me I know not.—I said nothing—took no notice and only took care to keep the Decanter so close to me afterwards that no one could have an opportunity to use it. In fact, being thirsty, I had totally forgotten myself, thinking only of the water. Nothing like this can happen to me again, nor shall I ever speak of it to any one, and I hope you will not, on any account. Lady Chantrey¹ said to me yesterday, every thing you say and do is talked about in London, you are so conspicuous a person. She little knows that this observation has lately brought up to my mind this abominable slip of recollection.—Here must just stop or I shall be too late for my Letter, Love to all

• ever most affectionately yours        
• W W.