994. W. W. and M. W. to SAMUEL and MARY STANIFORTH²

• Address: S. Stanniforth Esq^re, Liverpool.
• MS. Mrs. Greenwood. Hitherto unpublished.

• Rydal Mount
• April 16^th [1836]

My dear Sir

Accept my sincere thanks for your obliging Letter received a few minutes since; and for all the particulars respecting Mr and Mrs Bolton and the family, we regret however that you did not mention Mrs Stanniforth. It gave me great pleasure to see your amiable son³ at the meeting⁴ who went through his part most pg 198pleasingly. Knowing that Mr Graves¹ would write, I did not think it worth troubling Mr Bolton with a Letter, which would in many points have been only a repetition of what he would say. The stormy day was unlucky, but nevertheless the thing went off in a manner that gratified everyone, and not the less probably for their escape from the long speech I was disposed to inflict upon them; as you will have seen by the Wes. Gazette. It is correctly given except for one gross blunder—"the knowledge within" instead of, the knowledge withers and drops off. You would notice also in Mr Graves's beautiful Prayer nature, for nurture. As to the dinner I must say that it was excellent, and a meeting in which more kindly and sociable feeling prevailed could scarcely be seen. It was delightful to witness it, pray tell Mr and Mrs Bolton so from me. I know not how I should have got through the duty of chairman had I not been so admirably supported by the vice-president; and by Captⁿ Greaves,² who was the life of the company. To Sir Thomas Pasley also, I was much indebted.

You will excuse my saying more as I shall be occupied all day in writing Letters in aid of a Project I have been the means of setting on foot, the Erection of a new Church in my Native Town, Cockermouth, where one is much wanted. These are indeed, as you say, awful times; and the Church Establishment cannot stand unless exertions be made in every quarter where they are needed to support it.

• Ever faithfully your obliged              
• W^m Wordsworth    

[M. W. adds]

My dear Mrs. Stanniforth, Mr W. has concluded his hurried letter in a characteristic manner and without adverting to your Husband's friendly enquiries after our Invalids. I have pleasure however in telling you, and dear Mrs B, that my sister is certainly better than she was last year—as we had proof pg 199yesterday, upon her being taken into the garden; she was able to look about and enjoy all she saw—last summer she was unable to lift her head, the only time she was in the open air. Her memory too is come back to her—but her mind at times continues to be disturbed—her bodily health is good, and she is grown quite fat.—Dora too I am thankful to say is in many respects much better—tho' far from being well—but we encourage the hope that as the spring advances she may bear a little exercise in the open air, and that strength and health may be restored to her.—With affectionate regards to all my kind friends at Liverpool, and with best wishes that your sister may benefit by her visit to Leamington, and that we may see you all in comfortable health in the course of the summer at Storrs, believe me ever to be my dear Mrs Staniforth, your obliged

M. Wordsworth