LETTER132

letter132

charleslambtowilliamwordsworth

[datedatend:march21,1805.]

dearwordsworth,uponthereceiptofyourlastletterbeforethatwhichihavejustreceived,iwrotemyselftogilpinputtingyourquestionstohim;buthaveyethadnoanswer.iatthesametimegotapersonintheindiahousetowriteamuchfullerenquirytoarelativeofhiswhowassaved,oneyatesamidshipman.boththeseofficers(andindeedprettynearlyallthatareleft)havegotappointedtoothershipsandhavejoinedthem.gilpinisinthecomet,indiaman,nowlyingatgravesend.neitheryatesnorgilpinhaveyetanswered,butiamindailyexpectation.ihavesentyourletterofthismorningalsotogilpin.thewaitingfortheseanswershasbeenmyreasonfornotwritingyou.ihavemadeveryparticularenquiriesaboutwebber,butinvain.hewasacommonseaman(nottheship'scarpenter)andnotracesofhimareatthei.house:itismostprobablethathehasenteredinsomeprivateer,asmostofthecrewhavedone.iwillkeepthe£1notetillyoufindoutsomethingicandowithit.inowwriteidly,havingnothingtosend:buticannotbearthatyoushouldthinkihavequiteneglectedyourcommission.mylettertog.wassuchasithoughthecouldnotbutanswer:buthemaybebusy.thelettertoyatesihopeicanpromisewillbeanswered.onething,namelywhytheothershipssentnoassistance,ihavelearn'dfromapersononboardoneofthem:thefiringwasneveronceheard,owingtotheverystormynight,andnotidingscametothemtillnextmorning.theseawasquitehighenoughtohavethrownoutthemostexpertswimmer,andmightnotyourbrotherhavereceivedsomeblowintheshock,whichdisabledhim?wearegladtohearpoordorothyisalittlebetter.noneofyouareabletobearsuchastroke.topeopleoppressedwithfeeling,thelossofagood-humouredhappymanthathasbeenfriendlywiththem,ifhewerenobrother,isbadenough.butyoumustcultivatehisspirits,asalegacy:andbelievethatsuchashecannotbelost.hewasachearfulsoul!godblessyou.mary'slovealways.

c.lamb.21stmarch,1805.