LETTER238

letter238

marylambtodorothywordsworth

[p.m.november21,1817.]

mydearmisswordsworth,yourkindletterhasgivenusverygreatpleasure,—thesightofyourhandwritingwasamostwelcomesurprizetous.wehaveheardgoodtidingsofyoubyallourfriendswhoweresofortunateastovisityouthissummer,andrejoicetoseeitconfirmedbyyourself.youhavequitetheadvantageinvolunteeringaletter.thereisnomeritinreplyingtosowelcomeastranger.

wehaveleftthetemple.ithinkyouwillbesorrytohearthis.iknowihaveneverbeensowellsatisfiedwiththinkingofyouatrydalmountaswhenicouldconnecttheideaofyouwithyourowngrasmerecottage.ourroomsweredirtyandoutofrepair,andtheinconveniencesoflivinginchambersbecameeveryyearmoreirksome,andsoatlastwemusteredupresolutionenoughtoleavethegoodoldplacethatsolonghadshelteredus—andhereweare,livingatabrazier'sshop,no.20,inrussellstreet,coventgarden,aplaceallalivewithnoiseandbustle,drurylanetheatreinsightfromourfrontandcoventgardenfromourbackwindows.thehubbubofthecarriagesreturningfromtheplaydoesnotannoymeintheleast—strangethatitdoesnot,foritisquitetremendous.iquiteenjoylookingoutofthewindowandlisteningtothecallingupofthecarriagesandthesquabblesofthecoachmenandlinkboys.itistheoddestscenetolookdownupon,iamsureyouwouldbeamusedwithit.itiswelliaminachearfulplaceorishouldhavemanymisgivingsaboutleavingthetemple.ilookforwardwithgreatpleasuretotheprospectofseeingmygoodfriendmisshutchinson.iwishrydalmountwithallitsinhabitantsenclosedweretobetransplantedwithherandtoremainstationaryinthemidstofcoventgarden.ipassedthroughthestreetlatelywheremr.andmrs.wordsworthlodged;severalfinenewhouses,whichwerethenjustrisingoutoftheground,arequitefinishedandanobleentrancemadethatwayintoportlandplace.

iamverysorryformr.dequincey—whatablunderthepoormanmadewhenhetookuphisdwellingamongthemountains.ilongtoseemyfriendpypos.coleridgeisstillatlittlehamptonwithmrs.gillman,hehasbeensoillastobeconfinedtohisroomalmostthewholetimehehasbeenthere.

charleshashadallhishogarthsboundinabook,theyweresenthomeyesterday,andnowthatihavethemalltogetherandperceivetheadvantageofpeepingcloseatthemthroughmyspectaclesiamreconciledtothelossofthemhangingroundtheroom,whichhasbeenagreatmortificationtome—invainitriedtoconsolemyselfwithlookingatournewchairsandcarpets,forwehavegotnewchairs,andcarpetscoveringalloverourtwosittingrooms,imissedmyoldfriendsandcouldnotbecomforted—theniwouldresolvetolearntolookoutofthewindow,ahabitinevercouldattaininmylife,andihavegivenitupasathingquiteimpracticable—yetwheniwasatbrightonlastsummer,thefirstweekinevertookmyeyesofffromthesea,noteventolookinabook.ihadnotseentheseaforsixteenyears.mrs.morgan,whowaswithus,keptherliking,andcontinuedherseatinthewindowtilltheverylast,whilecharlesandiplayedtruantandwanderedamongthehills,whichwemagnifiedintolittlemountainsandalmostasgoodaswestmorelandscenery.certainlywemadediscoveriesofmanypleasantwalkswhichfewofthebrightonvisitorshaveeverdreamedof—forlikeasisthecaseintheneighbourhoodoflondon,afterthefirsttwoorthreemilesweweresuretofindourselvesinaperfectsolitude.ihopeweshallmeetbeforethewalkingfacultiesofeitherofusfail.yousayyoucanwalkfifteenmileswithease,—thatisexactlymystint,andmorefatiguesme;fourorfivemileseverythirdorfourthday,keepingveryquietbetween,wasallmrs.morgancouldaccomplish.

godblessyouandyours.lovetoallandeachone.

iameveryoursmostaffectionatelym.lamb.