LETTER223

letter223

marylambtomatildabetham

[nodate.?latesummer,1815.]

mydearmissbetham,—mybrotherandmyselfreturnyouathousandthanksforyourkindcommunication.wehavereadyourpoemmanytimesoverwithincreasedinterest,andverymuchwishtoseeyoutotellyouhowhighlywehavebeenpleasedwithit.maywebegonefavour?—ikeepthemanuscriptinthehopethatyouwillgrantit.itisthat,eithernoworwhenthewholepoemiscompleted,youwillreaditoverwithus.whenisaywithus,ofcourseimeancharles.iknowthatyouhavemanyjudiciousfriends,butihavesooftenknownmybrotherspyouterrorsinamanuscriptwhichhaspassedthroughmanyjudicioushands,thatishallnotbeeasyifyoudonotpermithimtolookyourscarefullythroughwithyou;andalsoyoumustallowhimtocorrectthepressforyou.

ifiknewwheretofindyouiwouldcalluponyou.shouldyoufeelnervousattheideaofmeetingcharlesinthecapacityofaseverecensor,givemealine,andiwillcometoyouanywhere,andconvinceyouinfiveminutesthatheiseventimid,stammers,andcanscarcelyspeakformodestyandfearofgivingpainwhenhefindshimselfplacedinthatkindofoffice.shalliappointatimetoseeyouherewhenheisfromhome?iwillsendhimoutanytimeyouwillname;indeed,iamalwaysnaturallyalonetillfouro'clock.ifyouarenervousaboutcoming,rememberiamequallysoaboutthelibertyihavetaken,andshallbetillwemeetandlaughoffourmutualfears.

yoursmostaffectionately

m.lamb.