THE WORKS OF
CHARLES AND MARY LAMB
VI. LETTERS
1821-1842
THE LETTERS
OF
CHARLES AND MARY LAMB
1821-1842
EDITED BY
E.V. LUCAS
WITH A FRONTISPIECE
CONTENTS OF VOLUME VI
LETTER 1821
264 Charles Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth Jan. 8
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
265 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop No date
From _Harper's Magazine_.
266 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop No date
From _Harper's Magazine_.
267 Charles Lamb to Mrs. William Ayrton Jan. 23
From the original.
268 Charles Lamb to Miss Humphreys Jan. 27
From the original at Rowfant.
269 Charles Lamb to Mrs. William Ayrton. March 15
From the original.
270 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop March 30
From _Harper's Magazine_.
271 Charles Lamb to Leigh Hunt April 18
From Leigh Hunt's _Correspondence_.
272 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge May 1
From the _Life of Charles Mathews_.
273 Charles Lamb to James Gillman May 2
From the _Life of Charles Mathews_.
274 Charles Lamb to John Payne Collier May 16
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
275 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter ?Summer
From facsimile in Mrs. Field's _A Shelf of
Old Authors_.
276 Charles Lamb to John Taylor June 8
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
277 Charles Lamb to John Taylor July 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
278 Charles Lamb to C.A. Elton Aug. 17
From the original in the possession of
Sir Edmund Elton.
279 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke Summer
From _Recollections of Writers_.
280 Mary Lamb to Mrs. William Ayrton No date
From the original in the possession of
Mr. A.M.S. Methuen.
281 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Oct. 21
From the American owner.
282 Charles Lamb to William Ayrton Oct. 27
From the original.
1822.
283 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge March 9
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
284 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth March 20
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
285 Charles Lamb to W. Harrison Ainsworth May 7
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
286 Charles Lamb to William Godwin May 16
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin:
His Friends_, etc.).
287 Charles Lamb to Mrs. John Lamb May 22
From the original in the Bodleian.
288 Charles Lamb to Mary Lamb (_fragment_) Aug.
From Crabb Robinson's _Diary_.
289 Charles Lamb to John Clare Aug. 31
From the original (British Museum).
290 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Sept. 11
From the original (British Museum).
291 Charles Lamb to Barren Field Sept. 22
From the original in the possession of
Mr. B.B. Macgeorge.
292 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Autumn
From the _Century Magazine_.
293 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Oct. 9
From the original (British Museum).
294 Charles Lamb to B.R. Haydon Oct. 9
From _Haydon's Correspondence and Table
Talk_.
295 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Oct. 22
From the _Century Magazine_.
296 Charles Lamb to B.R. Haydon Oct. 29
From _Haydon's Correspondence and Table
Talk_.
297 Charles Lamb to Sir Walter Scott Oct. 29
From Scott's _Familiar Letters_.
298 Charles Lamb to Thomas Robinson Nov. 11
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
299 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Nov. 13
From the _Century Magazine_.
300 Mary Lamb to Mrs. James Kenney ?Early Dec.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
301 Charles Lamb to John Taylor Dec. 7
From _Elia_ (Bell's edition).
302 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson Dec. 16
From the original (Bodleian).
303 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Dec. 23
From the original (British Museum).
1823.
304 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Jan.
From the _Century Magazine_.
305 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Jan.
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
306 Charles Lamb to Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Collier Jan. 6
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.B. Adam.
307 Charles Lamb to Charles Aders Jan. 8
From the original (Mr. J. Dunlop).
308 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Jan. 9
From the original (British Museum).
309 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Jan. 23
From the _Century Magazine_.
310 Charles Lamb to John Howard Payne Feb. 9
From the _Century Magazine_.
311 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Feb. 17
From the original (British Museum).
312 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson Feb. 24
From Mr. Hazlitt's text.
313 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton March 11
From the original (British Museum).
314 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton April 5
From the original (British Museum).
315 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter April 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
316 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hutchinson April 25
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
317 Charles Lamb to Miss Hutchinson (?)
(_fragment_) No date
From _Notes and Queries_.
318 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin No date
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
319 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton May 3
From the original (British Museum).
320 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin May 6
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
321 Mary Lamb to Mrs. Randal Norris June 18
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
322 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton July 10
From the original (British Museum).
323 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop July
From _Harper's Magazine_.
324 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Sept. 2
From the original (British Museum).
325 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept. 6
From _Harper's Magazine_.
326 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept. 9
From _Harper's Magazine_.
327 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept. 10
From _Harper's Magazine_.
328 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept.
From _Harper's Magazine_.
329 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Sept. 17
From the original (British Museum).
330 Charles Lamb to Charles Lloyd
(_fragment_) Autumn
From _Letters and Poems of Bernard Barton_.
331 Charles Lamb to H.F. Cary Oct. 14
From _Memoir of H.F. Cary_.
332 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop ?Oct.
From _Harper's Magazine_.
333 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Oct. 28
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
334 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt Early Nov.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
335 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Nov. 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
336 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Nov. 22
From the original (British Museum).
337 Charles Lamb to W. Harrison Ainsworth Dec. 9
From the original.
338 Charles Lamb to W. Harrison Ainsworth Dec. 29
From the original.
1824.
339 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Jan. 9
From the original (British Museum).
340 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Jan. 23
From the original (British Museum).
341 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Feb. 25
From the original (British Museum).
342 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton March 24
From the original (British Museum).
343 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Early Spring
From the original (British Museum).
344 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Thomas Allsop April 13
From _Harper's Magazine_.
345 Charles Lamb to William Hone April
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.A. Potts.
346 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton May 15
From the original in the possession of
Mr. B.B. Macgeorge.
347 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton July 7
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
348 Charles Lamb to W. Marter. July 19
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
349 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin July 28
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
350 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood (?_fragment_) Aug. 10
From the original.
351 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Aug. 17
From the original (British Museum).
352 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Sept. 30
From the original (British Museum).
353 Charles Lamb to Mrs. John Dyer Collier Nov. 2
From the original (South Kensington
Museum).
354 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Nov. 11
From Barry Cornwall's _Charles Lamb_
with alterations.
355 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Nov. 20
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
356 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hutchinson Nov. 25
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
357 Charles Lamb to Leigh Hunt ?Nov.
From Leigh Hunt's _Correspondence_ with
alterations.
358 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Dec. 1
Charles Lamb to Lucy Barton
From the original (British Museum).
1825.
359 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Jan. 11
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
360 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Jan. 17
From _Harper's Magazine_.
361 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hutchinson Jan. 20
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
362 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello Jan. 25
From the original (British Museum).
363 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Feb. 10
From the original (British Museum).
364 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?Feb.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
365 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hutchinson. March 1
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
366 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton March 23
From the original (British Museum).
367 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson March 29
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
368 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth April 6
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
369 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton April 6
From the original (British Museum).
370 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hutchinson April 18
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
(Last paragraph from original scrap at
Welbeck Abbey.)
371 Charles Lamb to William Hone May 2
From the original at Rowfant.
372 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth May
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
373 Charles Lamb to Charles Chambers ?May
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
374 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge ?June
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
375 Charles Lamb to Henry Colburn (?) June 14
From the original (South Kensington).
376 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge July 2
From the original (Morrison Collection).
377 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton July 2
From the original (British Museum).
378 Charles Lamb to John Aitken July 5
379 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Aug. 10
From the original (British Museum).
380 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Aug. 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
381 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept. 9
From _Harper's Magazine_.
382 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Sept. 24
From _Harper's Magazine_.
383 Charles Lamb to William Hone Oct. 24
From the original at Rowfant.
384 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Dec. 5
From _Harper's Magazine_.
385 Charles Lamb to Charles Oilier ?Dec.
From the original (South Kensington).
1826.
386 Charles Lamb to Charles Oilier Early in year
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
387 Charles Lamb to Charles Oilier Jan.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
388 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Feb. 7
From the original (British Museum).
389 Charles Lamb to Charles Oilier March 16
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.A. Potts.
390 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton March 20
From the original (British Museum).
391 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge March 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
392 Charles Lamb to H.F. Gary April 3
Mr. Hazlitt's text.
393 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello May 9
From the original (British Museum).
394 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton May 16
From the original (British Museum).
395 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge June 1
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
396 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin June 30
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
397 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hill No year
From the original (British Museum).
398 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin July 14
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
399 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Sept. 6
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
400 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon (fragment). No date
401 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Sept. 9
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
402 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Sept. 26
From the original (British Museum).
403 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Sept.
From the original in the possession of
Mr. Henry Poulton.
404 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton No date
From the original (British Museum).
1827.
405 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Jan. 20
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
406 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Jan. 20
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
407 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Jan. 29
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
408 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Jan.
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
409 Charles Lamb to B.R. Haydon March
From Taylor's _Life of Haydon_.
410 Charles Lamb to William Hone April
From the original at Rowfant.
411 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood May
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
412 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton No date
From the original (British Museum).
413 Charles Lamb to William Hone May
From the original at Rowfant.
414 Charles Lamb to William Hone June
From the original at Rowfant.
415 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton June 11
From the original (British Museum).
416 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson June 26
From the original (British Museum).
417 Charles Lamb to William Hone July
From the original at Rowfant.
418 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon July 17
From the original at Rowfant.
419 Charles Lamb to P.G. Patmore July 19
From Patmore's _My Friends and Acquaintances_.
420 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Shelley July 26
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
421 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Basil Montagu Summer
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
422 Mary Lamb to Lady Stoddart Aug. 9
423 Charles Lamb to Sir John Stoddart
From the original (Messrs. Maggs).
424 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Aug. 10
From the original (British Museum).
425 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Aug. 28
From the original (British Museum).
426 Charles Lamb to P.G. Patmore Sept.
From _My Friends and Acquaintances_.
427 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Sept. 5
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
428 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Sept. 13
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
429 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Sept. 18
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
430 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood Sept. 18
From the facsimile in Mrs. Balmanno's
_Pen and Pencil_.
431 Charles Lamb to Henry Colburn Sept. 25
From the original (South Kensington).
432 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Sept. 26
From the original in the possession of
Mr. Henry Poulton.
433 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Oct. 1
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
434 Charles Lamb to John Bates Dibdin Oct. 2
From the original in the possession of
Mr. R.W. Dibdin.
435 Charles Lamb to Barron Field Oct. 4
From the _Memoirs of Charles Matthews_.
436 Charles Lamb to William Hone ?Oct.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
437 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood No date
From the _National Review_.
438 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton No date
From the original (British Museum).
439 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Dec. 4
From the original (British Museum).
440 Charles Lamb to Leigh Hunt Dec.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
441 Charles Lamb to William Hone Dec. 15
442 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop ?Dec.
From _Harper's Magazine_.
443 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Dec. 20
From _Harper's Magazine_.
444 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Dec. 22
From the original at Rowfant.
445 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton End of year
From the original (British Museum).
1828.
446 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Jan. 9
From _Harper's Magazine_ with alterations.
447 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Jan.
From the original at Rowfant.
448 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Feb. 18
From the original at Rowfant.
449 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke Feb. 25
From _Reminiscences of Writers_.
450 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Feb. 26
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
451 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon March 19
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
452 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton April 21
From the original (British Museum).
453 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop May 1
From _Harper's Magazine_.
454 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon May 3
From the original.
455 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson May 17
From the original (British Museum).
456 Charles Lamb to T.N. Talfourd May 20
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
457 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth May
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
458 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Morgan June 17
459 Mary Lamb to the Thomas Hoods ?Summer
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
460 Charles Lamb to B.R. Haydon Aug.
From Taylor's _Life of Haydon_.
461 Charles Lamb to John Rickman
(_translation_) Oct. 3
462 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Oct. 11
From the original (British Museum).
463 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke Oct.
From _Recollections of Writers_.
464 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello Nov. 6
From _Recollections of Writers_.
465 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood Late autumn
From _Hood's Own_.
466 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Dec.
Text from Mr. Samuel Davey.
467 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Dec. 5
From the original (British Museum).
468 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke Dec.
From _Recollections of Writers_.
469 Charles Lamb to T.N. Talfourd End of year
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
1829.
470 Charles Lamb to George Dyer ?Jan.
From the original (British Museum).
471 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Jan.19
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
472 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Jan. 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
473 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Jan. 28
From _Harper's Magazine_.
474 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Jan. 29
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
475 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Early in year
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
476 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter Feb. 2
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
477 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke Feb. 2
From _Recollections of Writers_.
478 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson Feb. 27
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
479 Charles Lamb to Samuel Rogers March 22
From _Rogers and His Contemporaries_.
480 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton March 25
From the original (British Museum).
481 Charles Lamb to Miss Sarah James ?April
Text from Mr. Samuel Davey.
482 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson ?April
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
483 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson April 17
From the original (Dr. Williams' Library).
484 Charles Lamb to George Dyer April 29
From _The Mirror_, 1841.
485 Charles Lamb to Thomas Hood ?May
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
486 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon No date
From _The Autographic Mirror_.
487 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson May 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
488 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton June 3
From the original (British Museum).
489 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton July 25
From the original (British Museum).
490 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop Late July
From _Harper's Magazine_.
491 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Sept. 22
From the original at Rowfant.
492 Charles Lamb to James Gillman Oct. 26
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
493 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello Nov. 10
From the original (British Museum).
494 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson Nov. 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
495 Charles Lamb to James Gillman ?Nov. 29
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
496 Charles Lamb to James Gillman Nov. 30
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
497 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Dec. 8
From the original (British Museum).
498 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth
499 Mary Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth Jan. 22
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
500 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Feb. 25
From the original (British Museum).
501 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams Feb. 26
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
502 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams March 1
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
503 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt March 4
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
504 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams March 5
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
505 Charles Lamb to James Gillman March 8
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
506 Charles Lamb to William Ayrton March 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
507 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams March 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
508 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams April 2
From the original in the possession of
Mr. Yates Thompson.
509 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams April 9
From the original.
510 Charles Lamb to James Gillman ?Spring
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
511 Charles Lamb to Jacob Vale Asbury ?April
From _The Athenaewn_.
512 Charles Lamb to Jacob Vale Asbury No date
By permission of Mr. Edward Hartley.
513 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Williams April 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
514 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey May 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
515 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon May 12
From the original at Rowfant.
516 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello May 14
From the original (British Museum).
517 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello May 20
From the original (British Museum).
518 Charles Lamb to William Hone May 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
519 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt May 24
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
520 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt June 3
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
521 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton June 28
From the original (British Museum).
522 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton Aug. 30
From the original (British Museum).
523 Charles Lamb to Samuel Rogers Oct. 5
From _Rogers and His Contemporaries_.
524 Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello Nov. 8
From _Recollections of Writers_.
525 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Nov. 12
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
9526 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Dec.
From the original at Rowfant.
527 Charles Lamb to George Dyer Dec. 20
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
528 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Christmas
From the original (South Kensington).
1831.
529 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Feb. 3
From the original at Rowfant.
530 Charles Lamb to George Dyer Feb. 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
531 Charles Lamb to Bernard Barton April 30
From the original (British Museum).
532 Charles Lamb to H.F. Cary May 6
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
533 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon July 14
From the original at Rowfant.
534 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Early Aug.
From the original at Rowfant.
535 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Aug. 5
From the original at Rowfant.
536 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Sept. 5
From the original at Rowfant.
537 Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt, junior Sept. 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Lamb and Hazlitt_).
538 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Oct. 24
From the original at Rowfant.
539 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Dec. 15
From the original at Rowfant.
1832.
540 Charles Lamb to Joseph Hume's daughters No date
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
541 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke March 5
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
542 Charles Lamb to S.T. Coleridge April 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
543 Charles Lamb to James Sheridan Knowles ?April
From the original (South Kensington).
544 Charles Lamb to John Forster ?Late April
From the original (South Kensington).
545 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon? June 1
From the original (South Kensington).
546 Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop July 2
From _Harper's Magazine_.
547 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson Aug.
From the original in the Bodleian.
548 Charles Lamb to Crabb Robinson ?Early Oct.
From the original (South Kensington).
549 Charles Lamb to Walter Savage Landor Oct.
From the original (South Kensington).
550 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Late in year
From the original at Rowfant.
551 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Winter
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bonn).
552 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Dec.
From the original (South Kensington).
553 Charles Lamb to John Forster. Dec. 23
From the original (South Kensington).
1833.
554 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Jan.
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
555 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Jan. 3
From the original at Rowfant.
556 Charles Lamb to John Forster No date
From the original (South Kensington).
557 Charles Lamb to John Forster No date
From the original (South Kensington).
558 Charles Lamb to John Forster No date
From the original (South Kensington).
559 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Jan. 24
From the original at Rowfant.
560 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Feb. 11
From the original (South Kensington).
561 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Feb.
From the original (South Kensington).
562 Charles Lamb to T.N. Talfourd Feb.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
563 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon No date
From the original in the possession of
Mr. Henry Poulton.
564 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke Feb.
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
565 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Early in year
From the original at Rowfant.
566 Charles Lamb to B.W. Procter. No date
From Procter's Autobiographical Fragment.
567 Charles Lamb to William Hone March 6
From the original (National Portrait Gallery).
568 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon March 19
From the original (South Kensington).
569 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?Spring
From the original (South Kensington).
570 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon March 30
From the original at Rowfant.
571 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Spring
From the original at Rowfant.
572 Charles Lamb to John Forster ?March
From the original (South Kensington).
573 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon ?April 10
From the original at Rowfant.
574 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke April
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
575 Charles Lamb to Mrs. William Ayrton April 16
From the original, lately in the possession
of Mr. Edward Ayrton.
576 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon April 25
From the original at Rowfant.
577 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon April 27
From the original at Rowfant.
578 Charles Lamb to the Rev. James Gillman May 7
579 Charles Lamb to John Forster May
From the original (South Kensington).
580 Charles Lamb to John Forster May 12
From the original (South Kensington).
581 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth End of May
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
582 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt May 31
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.
583 Charles Lamb to Mary Betham June 5
From _A House of Letters_.
584 Charles Lamb to Matilda Betham June 5
From _Fraser's Magazine_.
585 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon July 14
From the original at Rowfant.
586 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon July 24
From the original at Rowfant.
587 Charles and Mary Lamb to Edward
and Emma Moxon ?July 31
From the original at Rowfant.
588 Charles Lamb to H.F. Cary Sept. 9
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
589 Charles and Mary Lamb to Edward Moxon Sept. 26
From the original at Rowfant.
590 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Oct. 17
From the original at Rowfant.
591 Charles Lamb to Edward and Emma Moxon Nov. 29
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
592 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke Mid. Dec.
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
593 Charles Lamb to Samuel Rogers Dec. 21
From _Rogers and His Contemporaries_.
594 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke No date
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
595 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke No date
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
1834.
596 Charles Lamb to the printer of
_The Athenaeum_ No date
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
597 Charles Lamb to Mary Betham Jan. 24
From the original in the possession of
Mr. B.B. Macgeorge.
598 Charles Lamb to Edward Moxon Jan. 28
From the original (South Kensington).
599 Charles Lamb to Miss Fryer Feb. 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
600 Charles Lamb to Miss Fryer No date
From the original in the possession of
Mr. A.M.S. Methuen.
601 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Feb. 22
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.
602 Charles Lamb to T.N. Talfourd No date
603 Charles Lamb to Charles Cowden Clarke
(_fragment_) End of June
From the _Life and Labours of Vincent Novello._
604 Charles Lamb to John Forster June 25
From the original (South Kensington).
605 Charles Lamb to J. Fuller Russell Summer
From _Notes and Queries_.
606 Charles Lamb to J. Fuller Russell Summer
From _Notes and Queries_.
607 Charles Lamb to C.W. Dilke End of July
From Sir Charles Dilke's original.
608 Charles Lamb to the Rev. James Gillman Aug. 5
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
609 Charles and Mary Lamb to H.F. Cary Sept. 12
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
610 Charles Lamb to H.F. Cary Oct.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
611 Charles Lamb to H.F. Cary Oct. 18
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
612 Charles Lamb to Mr. Childs ?Dec.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
613 Charles Lamb to Mr. Childs No date
614 Charles Lamb to Mrs. George Dyer Dec. 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).
615 Mary Lamb to Jane Norris Dec. 25
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
616 Mary Lamb to Jane Norris Oct. 3 1842.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).
Last letter. Miss James to Jane Norris July 25 1843.
APPENDIX
Barton's "Spiritual Law"
Barton's "Translation of Enoch"
Talfourd's "Verses in Memory of a Child named after Charles Lamb"
FitzGerald's "Meadows in Spring"
Montgomery's "The Common Lot"
Barry Cornwall's "Epistle to Charles Lamb"
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF LETTERS
INDEX
FRONTISPIECE
CHARLES LAMB (aged 51).
From the painting by Henry Meyer at the India Office.
THE LETTERS OF CHARLES AND MARY LAMB
1821-1834
LETTER 264
CHARLES LAMB TO DOROTHY WORDSWORTH
[P.M. January 8, 1821.]
Mary perfectly approves of the appropriat'n of the _feathers_, and
wishes them Peacocks for your fair niece's sake!
Dear Miss Wordsworth, I had just written the above endearing words when
Monkhouse tapped me on the shoulder with an invitation to cold goose
pye, which I was not Bird of that sort enough to decline. Mrs. M. I am
most happy to say is better. Mary has been tormented with a Rheumatism,
which is leaving her. I am suffering from the festivities of the season.
I wonder how my misused carcase holds it out. I have play'd the
experimental philosopher on it, that's certain. Willy shall be welcome
to a mince pye, and a bout at Commerce, whenever he comes. He was in our
eye. I am glad you liked my new year's speculations. Everybody likes
them, except the Author of the Pleasures of Hope. Disappointment attend
him! How I like to be liked, and _what I do_ to be liked! They flatter
me in magazines, newspapers, and all the minor reviews. The Quarterlies
hold aloof. But they must come into it in time, or their leaves be waste
paper. Salute Trinity Library in my name. Two special things are worth
seeing at Cambridge, a portrait of Cromwell at Sidney, and a better of
Dr. Harvey (who found out that blood was red) at Dr. Davy's. You should
see them.
Coleridge is pretty well, I have not seen him, but hear often of him
from Alsop, who sends me hares and pheasants twice a week. I can hardly
take so fast as he gives. I have almost forgotten Butcher's meat, as
Plebeian. Are you not glad the Cold is gone? I find winters not so
agreeable as they used to be, when "winter bleak had charms for me." I
cannot conjure up a kind similitude for those snowy flakes--Let them
keep to Twelfth Cakes.
Mrs. Paris, our Cambridge friend, has been in Town. You do not know the
Watfords? in Trumpington Street--they are capital people.
Ask any body you meet, who is the biggest woman in Cambridge--and I'll
hold you a wager they'll say Mrs. Smith.
She broke down two benches in Trinity Gardens, one on the confines of
St. John's, which occasioned a litigation between the societies as to
repairing it. In warm weather she retires into an ice-cellar
(literally!) and dates the returns of the years from a hot Thursday some
20 years back. She sits in a room with opposite doors and windows, to
let in a thorough draught, which gives her slenderer friends
tooth-aches. She is to be seen in the market every morning at 10,
cheapening fowls, which I observe the Cambridge Poulterers are not
sufficiently careful to stump.
Having now answered most of the points containd in your Letter, let me
end with assuring you of our very best kindness, and excuse Mary from
not handling the Pen on this occasion, especially as it has fallen into
so much better hands! Will Dr. W. accept of my respects at the end of a
foolish Letter.
C.L.
[Miss Wordsworth was visiting her brother, Christopher Wordsworth, the
Master of Trinity.
Willy was William Wordsworth, junr.
Lamb's New Year speculations were contained in his _Elia_ essay "New
Year's Eve," in the _London Magazine_ for January, 1821. There is no
evidence that Campbell disapproved of the essay. Canon Ainger suggests
that Lamb may have thus alluded playfully to the pessimism of his
remarks, so opposed to the pleasures of hope. When the _Quarterly_ did
"come in," in 1823, it was with cold words, as we shall see.
"Trinity Library." It is here that are preserved those MSS. of Milton,
which Lamb in his essay "Oxford in the Vacation," in the _London
Magazine_ for October, 1820, says he regrets to have seen.
"Cromwell at Sidney." See Mary Lamb's letter to Miss Hutchinson, August
20, 1815.
"Harvey ... at Dr. Davy's"--Dr. Martin Davy, Master of Caius.
"Alsop." This is the first mention of Thomas Allsop (1795-1880),
Coleridge's friend and disciple, who, meeting Coleridge in 1818, had
just come into Lamb's circle. We shall meet him frequently. Allsop's
_Letters, Conversations and Recollections of Samuel Taylor Coleridge_
contain much matter concerning Lamb.
"Winter bleak had charms for me." I could not find this for the large
edition. It is from Burns' "Epistle to William Simpson," stanza 13.
Mrs. Paris was a sister of William Ayrton and the mother of John Ayrton
Paris, the physician. It was at her house at Cambridge that the Lambs
met Emma Isola, whom we are soon to meet.
"Mrs. Smith." Lamb worked up this portion of his letter into the little
humorous sketch "The Gentle Giantess," printed in the _London Magazine_
for December, 1822 (see Vol. I. of the present edition), wherein Mrs.
Smith of Cambridge becomes the Widow Blacket of Oxford.
"Dr. W."--Dr. Christopher Wordsworth.]
LETTER 265
CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP
[No date. 1821.]
Dear Sir--The _hairs_ of our head are numbered, but those which emanate
from your heart defy arithmetic. I would send longer thanks but your
young man is blowing his fingers in the Passage.
Yours gratefully C.L.
[The date of this scrap is unimportant; but it comes well here in
connection with the reference in the preceding letter.
In _Harper's Magazine_ for December, 1859, were printed fifty of Lamb's
notes to Allsop, all of which are reproduced in at least two editions of
Lamb's letters. I have selected only those which say anything, as for
the most part Lamb was content with the merest message; moreover, the
date is often so uncertain as to be only misleading.
Crabb Robinson says of Allsop, "I believe his acquaintance with Lamb
originated in his sending Coleridge a present of £100 in admiration of
his genius."]
LETTER 266
CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP
[No date. 1821.]
D'r Sir--Thanks for the Birds and your kindness. It was but yesterd'y. I
was contriving with Talf'd to meet you 1/2 way at his chamber. But night
don't do so well at present. I shall want to be home at Dalston by
Eight.
I will pay an afternoon visit to you when you please. I dine at a
chop-house at ONE always, but I can spend an hour with you after that.
Yours truly
C.L.
Would Saturdy serve?
LETTER 267
CHARLES LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAM AYRTON
[Dated at end: Jan. 23, 1821.]
Dear Mrs. Ayrton, my sister desires me, as being a more expert penman
than herself, to say that she saw Mrs. Paris yesterday, and that she is
very much out of spirits, and has expressed a great wish to see your son
William, and Fanny--
I like to write that word _Fanny_. I do not know but it was one reason
of taking upon me this pleasing task--
Moreover that if the said William and Frances will go and sit an hour
with her at any time, she will engage that no one else shall see them
but herself, and the servant who opens the door, she being confined to
her private room. I trust you and the Juveniles will comply with this
reasonable request.
& am
Dear Mrs. Ayrton
your's and yours'
Truly
C. LAMB.
Cov. Gar.
23 Jan. 1821.
[Mrs. Ayrton (_née_ Arnold) was the wife of William Ayrton, the musical
critic.]
LETTER 268
CHARLES LAMB TO MISS HUMPHREYS
London 27 Jan'y. 1821.
Dear Madam, Carriages to Cambridge are in such request, owing to the
Installation, that we have found it impossible to procure a conveyance
for Emma before Wednesday, on which day between the hours of 3 and 4 in
the afternoon you will see your little friend, with her bloom somewhat
impaired by late hours and dissipation, but her gait, gesture, and
general manners (I flatter myself) considerably improved by--_somebody
that shall be nameless_. My sister joins me in love to all true
Trumpingtonians, not specifying any, to avoid envy; and begs me to
assure you that Emma has been a very good girl, which, with certain
limitations, I must myself subscribe to. I wish I could cure her of
making dog's ears in books, and pinching them on poor Pompey, who, for
one, I dare say, will heartily rejoyce at her departure.
Dear Madam,
Yours truly
foolish C.L.
[Addressed to "Miss Humphreys, with Mrs. Paris, Trumpington Street,
Cambridge." Franked by J. Rickman.
This letter contains the first reference in the correspondence to Emma
Isola, daughter of Charles Isola, Esquire Bedell of Cambridge
University, and granddaughter of Agostino Isola, the Italian critic and
teacher, of Cambridge, among whose pupils had been Wordsworth. Miss
Humphreys was Emma Isola's aunt. Emma seems to have been brought to
London by Mrs. Paris and left with the Lambs.
Pompey seems to have been the Lamb's first dog. Later, as we shall see,
they adopted Dash.]
LETTER 269
CHARLES LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAM AYRTON
[Dated at end: March 15, 1821.]
Dear Madam, We are out of town of necessity till Wednesday next, when we
hope to see one of you at least to a rubber. On some future Saturday we
shall most gladly accept your kind offer. When I read your delicate
little note, I am ashamed of my great staring letters.
Yours most truly
CHARLES LAMB.
Dalston near Hackney
15 Mar. 1821.
[In my large edition I give a facsimile of this letter.]
LETTER 270
CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP
30 March, 1821.
My dear Sir--If you can come next Sunday we shall be equally glad to see
you, but do not trust to any of Martin's appointments, except on
business, in future. He is notoriously faithless in that point, and we
did wrong not to have warned you. Leg of Lamb, as before; hot at 4. And
the heart of Lamb ever.
Yours truly, C.L.
LETTER 271
CHARLES LAMB TO LEIGH HUNT
_Indifferent Wednesday_ [April 18], 1821.
Dear Hunt,--There was a sort of side talk at Mr. Novello's about our
spending _Good Friday_ at Hampstead, but my sister has got so bad a
cold, and we both want rest so much, that you shall excuse our putting
off the visit some little time longer. Perhaps, after all, you know
nothing of it.--
Believe me, yours truly, C. LAMB.
LETTER 272
CHARLES LAMB TO S.T. COLERIDGE
May 1st [1821],
Mr. Gilman's, Highgate.
Mr. C.--I will not fail you on Friday by six, and Mary, perhaps,
earlier. I very much wish to meet "Master Mathew," and am much obliged
to the G----s for the opportunity. Our kind respects to them
always.--ELIA.
Extract from a MS. note of S.T.C. in my Beaumont and Fletcher, dated
April 17th 1807.
_Midnight_.
"God bless you, dear Charles Lamb, I am dying; I feel I have not many
weeks left."
[Master Mathew is in Ben Jonson's "Every Man in His Humour."
Lamb's "Beaumont and Fletcher" is in the British Museum. The note quoted
by Lamb is not there, or perhaps it is one that has been crossed out.
This still remains: "N.B. I shall not be long here, Charles! I gone, you
will not mind my having spoiled a book in order to leave a Relic.
S.T.C., Oct. 1811."]
LETTER 273
CHARLES LAMB TO JAMES GILLMAN
[Dated at end: 2 May, 1821.]
Dear Sir--You dine so late on Friday, it will be impossible for us to go
home by the eight o'clock stage. Will you oblige us by securing us beds
at some house from which a stage goes to the Bank in the morning? I
would write to Coleridge, but cannot think of troubling a dying man with
such a request.
Yours truly, C. LAMB.
If the beds in the town are all engaged, in consequence of Mr. Mathews's
appearance, a hackney-coach will serve. Wednes'y. 2 May '21.
We shall neither of us come much before the time.
[Mrs. Mathews (who was half-sister of Fanny Kelly) described this
evening in her _Memoirs_ of her husband, 1839. Her account of Lamb is
interesting:--
Mr. Lamb's first approach was not prepossessing. His figure was
small and mean; and no man certainly was ever less beholden to his
tailor. His "bran" new _suit_ of black cloth (in which he affected
several times during the day to take great pride, and to cherish as
a novelty that he had long looked for and wanted) was drolly
contrasted with his very rusty silk stockings, shown from his knees,
and his much too large _thick_ shoes, without polish. His shirt
rejoiced in a wide ill-plaited frill, and his very small, tight,
white neckcloth was hemmed to a fine point at the ends that formed
part of the little bow. His hair was black and sleek, but not
formal, and his face the gravest I ever saw, but indicating great
intellect, and resembling very much the portraits of King Charles I.
Mr. Coleridge was very anxious about his _pet_ Lamb's first
impression upon my husband, which I believe his friend saw; and
guessing that he had been extolled, he mischievously resolved to
thwart his panegyrist, disappoint the strangers, and altogether to
upset the suspected plan of showing him off.
The Mathews' were then living at Ivy Cottage, only a short distance from
the Grove, Highgate, where the famous Mathews collection of pictures was
to be seen of which Lamb subsequently wrote in the _London Magazine_.
Here should come a note to Ayrton saying that Madame Noblet is the least
graceful dancer that Lamb ever "did not see."]
LETTER 274
CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN PAYNE COLLIER
May 16, 1821.
Dear J.P.C.,--Many thanks for the "Decameron:" I have not such a
gentleman's book in my collection: it was a great treat to me, and I got
it just as I was wanting something of the sort. I take less pleasure in
books than heretofore, but I like books about books. In the second
volume, in particular, are treasures--your discoveries about "Twelfth
Night," etc. What a Shakespearian essence that speech of Osrades for
food!--Shakespeare is coarse to it--beginning "Forbear and eat no more."
Osrades warms up to that, but does not set out ruffian-swaggerer. The
character of the Ass with those three lines, worthy to be set in gilt
vellum, and worn in frontlets by the noble beasts for ever--
"Thou would, perhaps, he should become thy foe,
And to that end dost beat him many times:
He cares not for himself, much less thy blow."
Cervantes, Sterne, and Coleridge, have said positively nothing for asses
compared with this.
I write in haste; but p. 24, vol. i., the line you cannot appropriate is
Gray's sonnet, specimenifyed by Wordsworth in first preface to L.B., as
mixed of bad and good style: p. 143, 2nd vol., you will find last poem
but one of the collection on Sidney's death in Spenser, the line,
"Scipio, Caesar, Petrarch of our time."
This fixes it to be Raleigh's: I had guess'd it to be Daniel's. The last
after it, "Silence augmenteth rage," I will be crucified if it be not
Lord Brooke's. Hang you, and all meddling researchers, hereafter, that
by raking into learned dust may find me out wrong in my conjecture!
Dear J.P.C., I shall take the first opportunity of personally thanking
you for my entertainment. We are at Dalston for the most part, but I
fully hope for an evening soon with you in Russell or Bouverie Street,
to talk over old times and books. Remember _us_ kindly to Mrs. J.P.C.
Yours very kindly, CHARLES LAMB. I write in misery.
N.B.--The best pen I could borrow at our butcher's: the ink, I verily
believe, came out of the kennel.
[Collier's _Poetical Decameron_, in two volumes, was published in 1820:
a series of imaginary conversations on curious and little-known books.
His "Twelfth Night" discoveries will be found in the Eighth
Conversation; Collier deduces the play from Barnaby Rich's _Farewell to
Military Profession_, 1606. He also describes Thomas Lodge's
"Rosalynde," the forerunner of "As You Like It," in which is the
character Rosader, whom Lamb calls Osrades. His speech for food runs
thus:--
It hapned that day that _Gerismond_, the lawfull king of _France_
banished by _Torismond_, who with a lustie crew of outlawes liued in
that Forrest, that day in honour of his birth, made a feast to all
his bolde yeomen, and frolickt it with store of wine and venison,
sitting all at a long table vnder the shadow of Limon trees: to that
place by chance fortune conducted Rosader, who seeing such a crew of
braue men, hauing store of that for want of which hee and Adam
perished, hee slept boldly to the boords end, and saluted the
Company thus.--Whatsoeuer thou be that art maister of these lustie
squires, I salute thee as graciously as a man in extreame distresse
may: knowe that I and a fellow friend of mine, are here famished in
the forrest for want of foode: perish we must, vnlesse relieued by
thy fauours. Therefore if thou be a Gentleman, giue meate to men,
and such as are euery way worthie of life: let the proudest Squire
that sits at thy table rise and encounter with me in any honourable
point of activitie whatsoeuer, and if he and thou proue me not a
man, send mee away comfortlesse: if thou refuse this, as a niggard
of thy cates, I will haue amongst you with my sword, for rather wil
I die valiantly, then perish with so cowardly an extreame (Collier's
_Poetical Decameron_, 174, Eighth Conversation).
Lamb compares with that the passage in "As You Like It," II., 7, 88,
beginning with Orlando's "Forbear, and eat no more." The character of
the ass is quoted by Collier from an old book, _The Noblenesse of the
Asse_, 1595, in the Third Conversation:--
Thou wouldst (perhaps) he should become thy foe,
And to that end doost beat him many times;
He cares not for himselfe, much lesse thy blowe.
Lamb wrote more fully of this passage in an article on the ass
contributed to Hone's _Every-Day Book_ in 1825 (see Vol. I. of the
present edition).
The line from Gray's sonnet on the death of Mr. Richard West was this:--
And weep the more because I weep in vain.
"Scipio, Caesar," etc. This line runs, in the epitaph on Sidney,
beginning "To praise thy life"--
Scipio, Cicero, and Petrarch of our time!
It is generally supposed to be by Raleigh. The next poem, "Silence
Augmenteth Grief," is attributed by Malone to Sir Edward Dyer, and by
Hannah to Raleigh.]
LETTER 275
CHARLES LAMB TO B.W. PROCTER
[No date. ?Summer, 1821.]
Dear Sir, The _Wits_ (as Clare calls us) assemble at my Cell (20 Russell
St. Cov.-Gar.) this evening at 1/4 before 7. Cold meat at 9. Puns at--a
little after. Mr. Cary wants to see you, to scold you. I hope you will
not fail. Yours &c. &c. &c.
C. LAMB.
Thursday.
I am sorry the London Magazine is going to be given up.
[I assume the date of this note to be summer, 1821, because it was then
that Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, the _London Magazine's_ first publishers,
gave it up. The reason was the death of John Scott, the editor, and
probably to a large extent the originator, of the magazine. It was sold
to Taylor & Hessey, their first number being dated July, 1821.
Scott had become involved in a quarrel with _Blackwood_, which reached
such a pitch that a duel was fought, between Scott and Christie, a
friend of Lockhart's. The whole story, which is involved, and indeed not
wholly clear, need not be told here: it will be found in Mr. Lang's
memoir of Lockhart. The meeting was held at Chalk Farm on February 16,
1821. Peter George Patmore, sub-editor of the _London_, was Scott's
second. Scott fell, wounded by a shot which Christie fired purely in
self-defence. He died on February 27.
Mr. Cary. Henry Francis Cary the translator of Dante and a contributor
to the _London Magazine_.
The _London Magazine_ had four periods. From 1820 to the middle of 1821,
when it was Baldwin, Cradock & Joy's. From 1821 to the end of 1824, when
it was Taylor & Hessey's at a shilling. From January, 1825, to August of
that year, when it was Taylor & Hessey's at half-a-crown; and from
September, l825, to the end, when it was Henry Southern's, and was
published by Hunt & Clarke.]
LETTER 276
CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN TAYLOR
Margate, June 8, 1821.
Dear Sir,--I am extremely sorry to be obliged to decline the article
proposed, as I should have been flattered with a Plate accompanying it.
In the first place, Midsummer day is not a topic I could make anything
of--I am so pure a Cockney, and little read, besides, in May games and
antiquities; and, in the second, I am here at Margate, spoiling my
holydays with a Review I have undertaken for a friend, which I shall
barely get through before my return; for that sort of work is a hard
task to me. If you will excuse the shortness of my first
contribution-and I _know_ I can promise nothing more for July--I will
endeavour a longer article for _our next_. Will you permit me to say
that I think Leigh Hunt would do the article you propose in a masterly
manner, if he has not outwrit himself already upon the subject. I do not
return the proof--to save postage--because it is correct, with ONE
EXCEPTION. In the stanza from Wordsworth, you have changed DAY into AIR
for rhyme-sake: DAY is the right reading, and I IMPLORE you to restore
it.
The other passage, which you have queried, is to my ear correct. Pray
let it stand.
D'r S'r, yours truly, C. LAMB.