LETTER193

letter193

marylambtomisswordsworth

[p.m.nov.23,1810.]

mydearfriend,missmonkhouselefttownyesterday,butithinkiamabletoanswerallyourenquiries.isawheronsundayeveningatmrs.montagu's.shelookedverywell&saidherhealthwasgreatlyimproved.shepromisedtocallonmebeforeshelefttownbuttheweatherhavingbeenverybadisupposehaspreventedher.shereceivedtheletterwhichcamethroughmybrother'shandsandihavelearnedfrommrs.montaguthatallyourcommissionsareexecuted.itwascarlislethatsheconsulted,andsheistocontinuetakinghisprescriptionsinthecountry.mr.monkhouse&mr.addisondrankteawithusoneeveninglastweek.missmonkhouseisaverypleasinggirl,sheremindsme,alittle,ofmisshutchinson.ihavenotseenhenryrobinsonforsomedayspast,butirememberhetoldmehehadreceivedaletterfromyou,andhetalkedofspanishpaperswhichheshouldsendtomr.southey.iwonderhedoesnotwrite,forihavealwaysunderstoodhimtobeaveryregularcorrespondent,andheseemedveryproudofyourletter.iamtolerablywell,butistillaffecttheinvalid—takemedicines,andkeepathomeasmuchasipossiblycan.water-drinking,thoughiconfessittobeaflatthing,isbecomeveryeasytome.charlesperseveresinitmostmanfully.

coleridgeisjustinthesamestateaswheniwrotelast—ihavenotseenhimsincesunday,hewasthenatmr.morgan'sbuttalkedoftakingalodging.

phillipsfeelsacertaintythatheshalllosehiselection,forthenewcandidateishimselfafellowoftheroyalsociety,and[it]isthoughtsirjosephbankswillfavourhim.itwillnowbesoondecided.

mynewmaidisnowsickinbed.aminotunlucky?shewouldhavesuitedmeverywellifshehadbeenhealthy,butimustsendherawayifsheisnotbettertomorrow.

charlespromisedtoaddafewlines,iwillthereforeleavehimplentyofroom,forhemayperhapsthinkofsomethingtoentertainyou.iamsureicannot.

ihopeyouwillnotreturntograsmeretillallfearofthescarletfeverisover,irejoicetohearsogoodanaccountofthechildrenandhopeyouwillwriteoften.wheniwritenextiwillendeavourtogetafrank.thisicannotdobutwhentheparliamentissitting,andasyouseemedanxiousaboutmissmonkhouseiwouldnotdefersendingthis,thoughotherwiseitisnotworthpayingonepennyfor.

godblessyouall.

yoursaffectionately

m.lamb.