1100. W. W. to EDWARD MOXON

• MS. Henry E. Huntington Library.
• K (—). LY ii. 826.

[In M. W.'s hand]

[late Dec. 1836]

Dear Mr Moxon,

Thanks for your letter. Notwithstanding my double responsibility at Carlisle (for my Son is my Subdistributor there) we have not suffered from the failures,² tho' we had a narrow escape: and I assure you the state of the commercial world does not leave me free from anxiety—both with respect to my (p. 337) pg 337Office, and some other concerns. I hope you will be able to take care of yourself, for I apprehend the storm is coming.

Your account of the sale of the book¹ is as favourable as I ventured to expect: being myself quite at ease in regard to the reception which writings, that have cost me so much labour, will in the end meet with, I can truly say that I have not the least anxiety concerning the fate of this Edition, further than that you may speedily be repaid what you have generously advanced to me. The labour I have bestowed in correcting the style of these poems now revised for the last time according to my best judgment no one can ever thank me for, as no one can estimate it. The annoyance of this sort of work is, that progress bears no proportion to pains, and that hours of labour are often entirely thrown away—ending in the passage being left, as I found it.

I hope that Mr Evans will comply with my request, to send clean sheets as they are struck off—along with the succeeding proofs—and if it were possible to do this so that an opportunity may be given to us to return readings perfectly correct before the stereotype plates are taken—At all events, if the plan be adopted the errata may be sent in time—and perfectly correct.

You will remember I mentioned to you, by note, that I had been applied to by the Editor or Publisher of the Ch of Eng. Mag:² for permission to introduce the Ecclesiastical Sonnets into his Publication. In my hasty reply to this Gentleman I neglected to notice his obliging offer to send me his Mag: an omission for which I am sorry. Will you if you pass that way be kind enough to mention this, and add that I should be glad to receive it from him.

With our united regards to Mrs Moxon and your Sister, and with best wishes to yourself believe me to remain dear Mr M. sincerely yours

[signed] W Wordsworth  

The Pub^r of the Ch of E. Mag: has an Agent (a bookseller) at Kendal by name Dawson, thro' him Mr Troughton of Ambleside receives copies, and the one intended for me might be sent thro' Mr D. in Mr Troughton's parcel.

The parcel containing the 2 Vols prepared for me may be sent to Mess^rs Whitaker, Ave Maria Lane—to be enclosed in Mr Troughton's parcel—to Ambleside.