LETTER244

letter244

charleslambtorobertsouthey

monday,oct.26th,1818.

dearsouthey,—iampleasedwithyourfriendlyremembrancesofmylittlethings.idonotknowwhetherihavedoneasillythingorawiseone;butitisofnogreatconsequence.irunnorisk,andcarefornocensures.mybreadandcheeseisstableasthefoundationsofleadenhallstreet,andifitholdoutaslongasthe"foundationsofourempireintheeast,"ishalldoprettywell.youandw.w.shouldhavehadyourpresentationcopiesmoreceremoniouslysent;butihadnocopieswheniwasleavingtownformyholidays,andratherthandelay,commissionedmybooksellertosendthemthusnakedly.bynothearingfromw.w.oryou,ibegantobeafraidmurrayhadnotsentthem.idonotsees.t.c.sooftenasicouldwish.henevercomestome;andthoughhishostandhostessareveryfriendly,itputsmeoutofmywaytogoseeonepersonatanotherperson'shouse.itwasthesamewhenheresidedatmorgan's.notbuttheyalsoweremorethancivil;butafterallonefeelssowelcomeatone'sownhouse.haveyouseenpoormissbetham's"vignettes"?someofthem,thesecondparticularly,"tolucy,"aresweetandgoodasherself,whileshewasherself.sheisinsomemeasureabroadagain.iambetterthanideservetobe.thehotweatherhasbeensuchatreat!maryjoinsinthislittlecornerinkindestremembrancestoyouall.

c.l.

[thelettertreatsoflamb'sworks,justpublished.matildabethamfollowedupthelayofmariewithavolumeentitledvignettes.

"iambetterthanideserve."whylambunderlinedthesewordsidonotknow,butitmayhavebeena"ationfromcoleridge.carlyleinhisaccountofhisvisittocoleridgeathighgate(inthelifeofjohnsterling)putsitintocoleridge'smouthinconnectionwithalukewarmcupoftea.althoughlukewarmitwasbetter,hesaid,thanhedeserved.thatwaslater,butitmayhavebeenasayingofwhichcoleridgewasfond.]