Jump to Content
Main Text Notes Reset panels
Lock Panels
Close
Jump to chapter

William Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth

The Letters of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Vol. 6: The Later Years: Part III: 1835–1839 (Second Revised Edition)

Contents
Find Location in text

Main Text

1016. W. W. to HIS FAMILY

  • MS. WL. Hitherto unpublished.

[? 20 May 1836]

… Egremont,2 and with that view I put into Lord Lonsdale's hand a Copy of Mr Woods Letter and of the Subscriptions.—I assure [you] I am busy from morning to night. Yesterday I talked over the new edition with Moxon at Mr Kenyons and I only wait for Rees3 proposals to decide. My right eye continues a good deal distressed, the Sun is so glaring, and I fear I shall not be able to fill this sheet for want of time, as we dine at Dr Burneys4 at Greenwich, Mr and Miss Watson also.—

pg 222Mr Gardner1 called this morning—he gives an account which is hopeful of John—of whom I see a great deal. He will also supply me with a mild before dinner pill which he says will be beneficial as long as I can [?]2 and masticate. The Pills I had of Johnson3 have done their duty abundantly. So I hope to go on well.

How I long to hear again how you are! pray send Mr Carr's account of Dora, and also John Carter's of the money arrangements, and also the earliest day when the Quarterly account can reach London for me to sign it. I am quite glad of the quiet evening before Mrs Marshall is to call here at 1/4 before six to settle about an engagement for to morrow, but I shall miss her: I see scores of people that are introduced to me but dont remember the names of one in ten. Crabbe4 fell asleep last night at Kenyons table—he sate with his mouth open, as wide as the Lions when I have seen them roaring, but neither screamed nor snored. We5 talk of a trip on the Continent together, but alas I feel the uncertainty of every thing. O that there was a railway to take me to Kendal or Lancaster or Preston, and then I should think of this scheme with pleasure, but to be so long absent from you all distresses me above measure.

Mr Townsend6 says that Mrs Tillbrook7 is well left. Till—had saved a good deal of money. Miss Watson has just come in, I placed the two medallions8 before her, she scarcely recognized them. This moment Mr Wilkin has sent me half a dozen of his pg 223Portraits.1 Miss W. has kindly accepted one. She seemed pleased with the likeness—I must bid you good bye, ever and ever most affectionately your

W W.   

Kindest remembrances to all the family.—

Notes Settings

Notes
Editor’s Note
2 The first part of this letter is missing. The reference appears to be to Lord Egremont, whose support was needed for the proposed new church in Cockermouth.
Editor’s Note
3 Owen Rees (1770–1837), partner with Longman since 1794.
Editor’s Note
4 The Revd. Charles Parr Burney, D. D. (b. 1786), ran a school in Greenwich, and was later Archdeacon of St. Albans and rector of Sible Hedingham, Essex. He had called at Rydal Mount in the summer of 1832 (RMVB).
Editor’s Note
1 John Gardner, to whom R. W.'s son John had been indentured.
Editor’s Note
2 MS. obscure.
Editor’s Note
3 Unidentified.
Editor’s Note
4 The poet's son (see pt. ii, L. 810).
Editor’s Note
5 i.e. W. W. and H. C. R.
Editor’s Note
6 The Revd. Charles Townsend (1789–1870) a friend of J. C. Hare, H. J. Rose, Tillbrooke, and the Aylings, was curate of Preston with Hove, 1825–37, and thereafter rector of Kingston-by-the-Sea, Sussex. W. W. had corresponded with him over a number of years about his poems (WL MSS.), and he had recently succeeded in publishing Winchester, and a few other compositions in prose and verse, Winchester, (privately printed), 1835. See also L. 1073 below.
Editor’s Note
7 See pt. ii, L. 639. Samuel Tillbrooke had died the previous year.
Editor’s Note
8 Wyon's medallion portraits of W. W., and Southey, taken the previous summer (see L. 930 above), were to be exhibited at the Royal Academy. See also L. 1019 below.
Editor’s Note
1 The lithograph of Wilkin's portrait of W. W. (see pt. ii, L. 639).
logo-footer Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. Access is brought to you by Log out

results for ""

Show Less Close