547. W. W. to LORD LONSDALE

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 Hitherto unpublished.

• Rydal Mount
• 16th June 1819

My Lord,

It must be mentioned to your Lordship that my Neighbour Mr Gee, and myself, have thought it right to give Mr Lumb, such pg 545information respecting the political opinions, conduct and connections of certain Persons in this neighbourhood, who have applied for enfranchisement, as we hope will be serviceable to the cause.—An opportunity has fortunately occurred for coming to an explanation with some on this point; persons with whom we were in habits of intercourse. Without presuming to say a word as to what course your Lordship would take upon their applications, they were told, that we felt it our duty to state what their opinions and political connections were, and should do so in respect to all those, who, with similar views, would make the same applications.—The business now stands upon a footing satisfactory to our minds; for it was not pleasant to be instrumental in opposing favorite objects of those with whom one is living in habits of neighbourly communication, without their knowing it. I attended at Grasmere, and Mr Gee attended at the other Courts holden at Low Wood and Bowness. No one can be more zealous and active than he is.—On looking over Mr Lumb's list of new freeholders in this neighbourhood, I was sorry to find that half a dozen whose names I expected to see were not there—owing, principally to delays at Kendal in executing the deeds—which Mr Lumb would take care to get done speedily.

Many thanks for your Lordship's exertions and intentions on behalf of Mr De Quincey's introduction to the Quarterly Review. I am afraid it is improbable on account of the view he takes of the subject.¹ I have seen the Article in the E.R.²—it is as your Lordship describes, feeble and false; and, what one would scarcely have expected, manifestly depressed and heartless.

Mr Ware of the Cumberland Pacquet³ may thank his own supineness for the Opposition paper in Whitehaven.⁴ I was lately in the neighbourhood of Ravenglass and learned that several persons who had taken in the new Paper on account of the flatness of the Pacquet, were disappointed and meant to return to their old acquaintance.

I have not heard from Sir George Beaumont since his departure.—The Kendal Chronicle has been taking great pains, in no less than four numbers, to persuade my neighbours that I am a very bad Poet;⁵ from which I conclude that they do not much like me as a pg 546Politician. At Keswick I saw the other day both Mr Southey and Mr Calvert both well, and Calvert a determined enemy to the plans for resuming Cash payments. He was a good deal of an Admirer of young Graham of Netherby; but his public attack upon the Hasell family¹ has sickened him a little.

I was rather surprised that young Hasell did not demand an explanation of one of the offensive terms used by Mr Graham on that occasion.

Knowing how much your Lordship is engaged I ought to apologize for troubling you so long.

• I have the honor to be   
• my Lord          
• faithfully yours      
• Wm Wordsworth