meaning, I suppose, the cheapest form, for the benefit of readers in the humblest condition of life; being convinced from his own experience, that my works were fitted to touch their hearts, and purify and exalt their minds. These were not his words exactly, but they were to this effect. Miss Martineau, I am told, has said that my poems are in the hearts of the American people. That is the place I would fain occupy among the people of these islands; and I am not at all sure that the abstract character of a small portion of my own poetry would at all stand in the way of that result, though it would not of itself recommend them to the mass of the people.

I leave the mode of publication entirely to your superior judgment, being persuaded that whatever there may be in these or my other works fitted for general sympathy, that will find its way, as education spreads, to the spirits of many. I ought to add, as a personal motive for preparing a volume printed as you recommend, that it will gratify my daughter, whom I am always happy and proud to please; and before you decide as to type and shape of page, would you take the trouble to communicate with her, and send a specimen to No. 3 Clarence Lane, Dover.-Very sincerely yours,

W. W."

The following are extracts from other letters to Moxon in 1838

"May 1838.

. . The extension of the term of copyright, whatever becomes of the principle during this session, being both just and expedient, is sure of being carried sooner or later. In the meanwhile, by being the single exception among publishers who have united to oppose it, you have done yourself great honour, and acted to your advantage also, depend upon it. . . [He refers to Talfourd's speech on copyright, and adds,] He is an astonishing man for talents, genius, and energy of mind."

...

"July 28, 1838.

I have been wandering for more than a month in the counties of Durham and Northumberland, and am now fixed. at home for, I trust, a long time. . . . The Examiner drolly enough says that a sonnet on the ballot, his favourite hobby, damns the volume."

In 1838, Julius Charles Hare, the Archdeacon of Lewes, dedicated the second edition of his Guesses at Truth to Wordsworth. After expressing his personal debt to the poet, he says: "Many will join in my prayer that health of body and mind may be granted to you to complete the noble work which you have still in store, so that men may learn more worthily to understand and appreciate what a glorious gift God bestows on a nation, when He gives them a poet."

Hare was the editor of the Philological Museum, printed at Cambridge, to which, in 1832, Wordsworth contributed his translation of part of the First Book of the Eneid.

In volume I. of this Memoir reference was made to John Thelwall, the democrat, and Wordsworth's knowledge of him in the Alfoxden days. In a letter addressed by the poet to his widow, dated November 16th (the year is not given, but it evidently belongs to 1838), the following occurs :—

"MADAM,— Circumstances were not favourable to much intercourse between your late husband and myself. I became acquainted with him during a visit which he made to Mr. Coleridge, who was then residing at Nether Stowey.. Your impression is correct that I, in company with my sister and Mr. Coleridge, visited him at his pleasant abode on the banks of the Wye. Mr. Southey was not of the party, as you suppose.

After the year 1798, I do not recollect having had any intercourse with Mr. Thelwall, till he called upon me at Gras

* The Examiner said so high was the quality of the rest of the volume, that this "absurd sonnet was a "profanation."

mere on his way to Edinburgh, whither he was going to give lectures upon elocution. This must have been some time between 1801 and 1807, and I once called upon him in London. After that time I think I never saw him. . . .

Whether Mr. Thelwall wrote much poetry or not, I am ignorant, but I possess a small printed volume of his, containing specimens of an epic poem, and several miscellaneous pieces. . . . Mr. Coleridge and I were of opinion that the modulations of his blank verse were superior to that of most writers in that metre. .. With best wishes I remain, Madam, sincerely yours, WM. WORDSWORTH."

Some time ago I received from Mr. Browning three letters, written by Wordsworth to Mrs. Browning, when she was Miss Barrett. They have no special interest, beyond the fact that they were written by him, and were addressed to her; but the remembrance of Browning's own poem Memorabilia induces us to record the first meeting of original minds, and the points even of slightest contact between them. Mr. Browning wrote of these letters thus :

"19 Warwick Crescent, W., Aug. 10, '85. DEAR PROFESSOR KNIGHT.-Now that I have found the letters, of which all my knowledge was that they somewhere existed, they prove to be so unimportant and uncharacteristic of anything but the writer's good nature, that I can hardly think you will care to make use of them.

This is, however, your affair, mine being simply to redeem my promise of submitting them to you, which is done accordingly... Believe me, ever truly yours,

ROBERT BROWNING."

The first of the letters is addressed to Miss Barrett's cousin, John Kenyon, and the other two to herself. They are as follows: :

"MY DEAR FRIEND,-I have been so much pleased with

the power and knowledge displayed in Miss Barrett's vol. of poems which you were so kind as to send Mr. W. some time ago, that I am desirous to see her translation of Eschylus.* Would you send me a copy through Mr. Moxon, and tell me also where it is to be bought, as two of my acquaintances wish to purchase it?

We hear of you through that kindest of creatures, H. Robinson, but not a word about your coming down, as you had given us leave to hope you might have done, but on the contrary that you are going off with your brother. A thousand good wishes attend you both, and pray remember us to him most kindly.-Ever affectionately yours,

WM. & M. WORDSWORTH.

Rydal, 17th Aug. 1838."

"Rydal Mount, Oct. 24th, '42.

DEAR MISS BARRETT,-Through our common friend, Mr. Haydon, I have received a sonnet which his portrait of me suggested. I should have thanked you sooner for this expression of feeling towards myself with which I am much gratified, but I have been absent from home and much occupied.

The conception of your sonnet is in full accordance with the painter's intended work, and the expression vigorous; yet the word 'ebb,' though I do not myself object to it, nor wish it altered, will I fear prove obscure to nine readers out of ten. 'A vision free and noble, Haydon, hath thine art achieved.' Owing to the want of inflections in our language the construction here is obscure. Would it not be better thus? . . . I was going to write a small change in the order of the words, but I find it would not remove the objection. The verse, as I. take it, would be somewhat clearer thus, if you could tolerate the redundant syllable: By a vision free and noble, Haydon,

* Mr. Dykes Campbell writes: "A copy was sent, for I have it. On the half-title Mrs. Wordsworth has written: From Ed. M. Barrett, father of Miss Barrett, to Mr. Wordsworth,' and W. W. has added his own name."

is thine art achieved.'* I had the gratification of receiving, a good while ago, two copies of a volume of your writing, which I have read with much pleasure, and beg that the thanks which I charged a friend to offer may be repeated through you.

It grieved me much to hear from Mr. Kenyon, and now also from Mr. Haydon, that your health is so much deranged. But for that cause I should have presumed to call upon you, when I was in London last spring. With every good wish,I remain, dear Miss Barrett, your much obliged,

W. WORDSWORTH."

"Rydal Mount, 16th Aug., '44.

DEAR MISS BARRETT,-Being exceedingly engaged at this season, as I always am, I think it best to acknowledge immediately my sense of your kindness in sending me the two volumes of your poems recently published; from the perusal of which, when I am at leisure, I promise myself great pleasure. . . . -Believe me, dear Miss Barrett, to remain, with high respect, faithfully yours, W. WORDSWORTH."

In a letter to his publisher, written from Rydal Mount on December 11, 1838, Wordsworth refers to a recent tour which Moxon had made in Italy: ". . . You mention Lago de Garda; I hope you went to the head of it. If not, you missed some of the most striking scenery to be found anywhere among the Alps. . . . As to the edition in one volume, I wait for your proposals. So little is gained by having the lines wider apart that I would choose the thirty-six sheets in preference to the forty, but on account of the overflowing lines I could myself have no pleasure in looking at either the one page or the other. In the American edition which you saw, not a single tensyllable verse overflows, whereas in the pages sent me as

* Mrs. Browning altered this line in her published sonnet

A noble vision free

Our Haydon's hand has flung out from the mist.