LETTER222

letter222

charleslambtomisshutchinson(addedtosameletter)

dearmisshutchinson,isubscribemostwillinglytoallmysistersaysofherenjoymentatcambridge.shewasinsilentrapturesallthewhilethereandcamehomeridingthro'theair(her1stlongoutsidejourney)triumphingasifshehadbeengraduated.irememberonefoolish-prettyexpressionshemadeuseof,"blessthelittlechurcheshowprettytheyare,"asthosesymbolsofcivilizedlifeopeneduponherviewoneaftertheotheronthissidecambridge.youcannotproceedamilewithoutstartingasteeple,withitslittlepatchofvillageryroundit,enverduringthewaste.idon'tknowhowyouwillpardonpartofherletterbeingatranscript,butwritingtoanotherladyfirst(probablyastheeasiesttask*)itwasunnaturalnottogiveyouanacco'tofwhathadsofreshlydelightedher,andwouldhavebeenapieceoftranscendantrhetorick(abovehermodesty)tohavegiventwodifferentaccountsofasimpleandunivocalpleasure.blessmehowlearnediwrite!butialwaysforgetmyselfwheniwritetoladies.onecannottameone'seruditiondowntotheirmerelyenglishapprehensions.butthisandallotherfaultsyouwillexcusefromyourstruly

c.lamb.

ourkindestlovestojoanna,ifshewillacceptitfromuswhoaremerelynominaltoher,andtothechildandchild'sparent.yoursagain

c.l.

[marylambaddsthisfootnote:—]

*"easiesttask."notthetruereason,butcharleshadsoconnectedcoleridge&cambridgeinmymind,bytalkingsomuchofhimthere,andalettercomingsofreshfromhim,inamannerthatwasthereasoniwrotetothemfirst.imakethisapologyperhapsquiteunnecessarily,butiamofaveryjealoustempermyself,andmorethanoncerecollecthavingbeenoffendedatseeingkindexpressionswhichhadparticularlypleasedmeinafriend'sletterrepeatedwordforwordtoanother—farewelloncemore.

[ihavenoideawhythischarmingletterwasheldbackwhentalfourdcopiedthelamb-wordsworthcorrespondence.thenameoftheyoungmanwhoshowedthelambssuchcourtesyisnotknown.

coleridge'sliteraryplansweredestinedtochange.thebiographialiterariawaspublishedalonein1817,andsibyllineleavesalonelaterinthesameyear.—"remorse"hadbeenactedatcalneinjuneforthesecondtime,apreviousvisithavingbeenpaidin1813.coleridgegavethemanagera"flamingtestimonial."—ladybeaumontwasthewifeofsirgeorgebeaumont.

"olivercromwell."theportraitbycooperatsidneysussexcollege.

f.w.franklinwaswithlambatchrist'shospital.afterwardshebecamemasterofthebluecoatschoolathertford.heismentionedintheeliaessayonchrist'shospital.]