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William Wordsworth

Ernest De Selincourt, Alan G. Hill, and Mary Moorman (eds), The Letters of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Vol. 3: The Middle Years: Part II: 1812–1820 (Second Revised Edition)

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462. W. W. to LORD LONSDALE

  • MS. Lonsdale MSS., Record Office, The Castle, Carlisle. Hitherto unpublished.

  • 28 Queen Anne Street
  • Cavendish Square.
  • Decb 13th [1817]

My Lord,

Mr Parry1 had not the least objection to grant me the permission I requested.

I shall have the honor of enclosing a Copy of my Letter to Mr Ramshay,2 and his answer when I receive it.

This morning I heard of a piece of absurdity which your Lordship will permit me to mention. Mr George Troutbeck of Blencow, at present a student in one of the Inns of Court, dining with Mr Monkhouse yesterday, informed him, on the authority of a Gentleman who was present at the meeting,3 that certain Persons had agreed to oppose your Lordship's interest for the County of Westmorland at the ensuing election. The honors of standing as Candi-pg 405date had been offered to Mr Brougham1 but he declined it. Three thousand pounds were subscribed at the meeting for the purpose of the Election, and the Person to be brought forward is a Gentleman of £2000 per ann. landed estate in the neighbourhood of Temple Sowerby.2 This is the history of this ridiculous business as reported by Mr Troutbeck. On my return to London I will try to learn who the parties were.

Your Lordship's Boots were of infinite service to me, as owing to the Mail's being full I was obliged to venture myself on the outside. I was no worse but better for exposure to the night air.

Yesterday London was covered with one of those thick fogs peculiar to it.

My best wishes attend your Lordship and every member of your family.

  • I have the honour to be          
  • with the highest respect          
  • my Lord                   
  • Your Lordship's        
  • obedient and obliged Servant    
  • Wm Wordsworth.  

Please to turn over the page.

P.S. I am just setting off for Sundridge,3 I shall return on Wednesday or Thursday next; my address as above.

Notes Settings

Notes
Editor’s Note
1 See L. 308 and L. 434 above.
Editor’s Note
2 Mr. Ramshay was the Distributor of Stamps for the Carlisle district of Cumberland. Wordsworth was hoping to take over his district, but for reasons connected with the Westmorland election he did not at this time do so. He had met him in July 1814 during the tour to Scotland with M. W. and S. H. See SH 21, p. 72.
Editor’s Note
3 At the City of London Tavern on 10 Dec. It purported to be a meeting of 'freeholders and other gentlemen connected with Westmorland, resident in London', but was in fact very sparsely attended; and the self-styled 'London Committee', set up on this occasion, was subsequently ridiculed by the Lowthers. 'Mr. Monkhouse' is Tom M., M. W.'s first cousin.
Editor’s Note
1 Henry (later Lord) Brougham (1778—1868). In 1818 he did in fact challenge Lord Lonsdale's practice of nominating the two county members for Westmorland. He was defeated after a four days' poll, and defeated subsequently in 1820 and 1826, but his candidature caused a great sensation from the vigorous manner in which he conducted it. Wordsworth's activities during the election on behalf of the Lowther brothers—sons of Lord Lonsdale—are described in detail in his letters to Lord Lonsdale and Lord Lowther from this date onwards. See also Moorman, ii, pp. 344—56.
Editor’s Note
2 W. W.'s cousin William Crackanthorpe of Newbiggin Hall, who was in the opposite 'interest' politically to Lord Lonsdale, as his father, the Wordsworth's 'Uncle Kit', had been an agent of the Duke of Norfolk's in Cumberland. See L. 466 below.
Editor’s Note
3 For a description of Sundridge, see SH 35, p. 112.
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