LETTER203

letter203

marylambtomrs.johndyercollier

[nodate.]

dearmrs.c.—thisnotewillbegiventoyoubyayoungfriendofmine,whomiwishyouwouldemploy:shehascommencedbusinessasamantua-maker,and,ifyouandmygirlswouldtryher,ithinkshecouldfityouallthree,anditwillbedoingheranessentialservice.sheis,ithink,verydeserving,andifyouprocureworkforheramongyourfriendsandacquaintances,somuchthebetter.mybestlovetoyouandmygirls.wearebothwell.

yoursaffectionately,

marylamb.

[johnpaynecollierremarks:"southeyandcoleridge,asiswellknown,marriedtwosistersofthenameoffricker.ineversaweitherofthem,butathirdsistersettledasamantua-makerinlondon,andforsomeyearssheworkedformymotherandherdaughters.shewasanintelligentwoman,butbynomeansaboveherbusiness,thoughshewasfondoftalkingofhertwopoet-marriedrelations.shewasintroducedtomymotherbythefollowingnotefrommarylamb,whoalwaysspokeofmysistersashergirls."

marylambhadherselfworkedasamantua-makerforsomeyearsprevioustotheautumnof1796.]