CHAPTER XXVIL

LIFE AT RYDAL MOUNT--THE DISTRIBUTORSHIP OF STAMPS

TOUR IN SCOTLAND.

EARLY in 1813, the Wordsworth family removed from the Parsonage, Grasmere, to Rydal Mount--a place that has been more permanently identified with him than any of his former residences, although his best poetic work was done elsewhere. This special association of Wordsworth with Rydal has perhaps arisen from his long residence at it-thirtyseven years-from the numerous friends he received as his guests during these years of increasing fame, and from the singular charm of the place itself.

The Mount, as it was in 1850, has been admirably described by the poet's nephew, in an early chapter of his Memoirs. The house itself, the trees and evergreens, the mound in front, the terraces, the garden, its arbour, its old well, Dora's field, the view of the surrounding country, and the interior-all are photographed for us in that chapter. It has been subsequently written about, a score of times.* Wordsworth himself spoke of "the beauty of the situation, as being backed and flanked by lofty fells, which bring the heavenly bodies to touch, as it were, the earth upon the mountain-tops, while the prospect in front lies open to a length of level valley, the extended lake, and a terminating ridge of low hills; so that it gives an opportunity to the

* In William Howitt's Homes and Haunts of the most eminent British Poets, it is picturesquely described; but the Bishop of Lincoln's account is by far the best that we possess.

inhabitants of the place of noticing the stars in both the positions here alluded to, namely, on the tops of the mountains, and as winter-lamps at a distance among the leafless trees."

On her coming to Rydal, Dorothy Wordsworth wrote thus to Mrs Marshall, from the Parsonage.

"RYDAL MOUNT, Thursday Morning, 1813. "Arrived yesterday. The weather is delightful, and the place a paradise; but my inner thoughts will go back to Grasmere. I was the last person who left the house yesterday evening. It seemed as quiet as the grave; and the very churchyard, where our dead lie, when I gave a last look upon it, seemed to cheer my thoughts. Then I could think of life and immortality. The house only reminded me of desolate gloom, emptiness, and cheerless silence. But why do I now turn to these things? The morning is bright, and I am more cheerful." [She then asks for a novel to be sent from Waterwillock, to Mrs Coleridge at Keswick.]

Some time before he left Grasmere, Wordsworth had asked Lord Lonsdale if he could, directly or indirectly, procure him any office, by means of which his income might be increased, and at the same time leisure might be left him, to pursue the literary work, to which he had devoted his life. His correspondence with the Earl of Lonsdale on this, as well as other points, has all been preserved.*

Wordsworth's acquaintance with Lord Lonsdale began shortly after the purchase of the property under Place Fell, referred to in a previous chapter. On the 19th August 1806 he wrote thus to the Earl, in reference to his gift:

Through the courtesy of Lord Lonsdale. and his Factor, I have lately had the opportunity of examining one hundred and seventeen letters of Wordsworth's to the fourth Earl, ranging from the year 1806 to 1835, and more than half of that number written to Viscount Lowther. These letters are preserved in Lowther Castle.

"... I cannot help adding that a place, which its own beauty first recommended to me, will be greatly enhanced by being connected in my mind, with so pleasing a remembrance of your particular kindness towards me, and of your general benevolence."

On the 6th of February 1812, he wrote as follows, from the Grasmere Parsonage :

GRASMERE, Feb. 6, 1812.

I need scarcely say that literature has been the pursuit of my life; a life-pursuit, chosen (as I believe are those of most men distinguished by any particular features of character) partly from passionate liking, and partly from calculations of the judgment; and in some small degree from circumstances in which my youth was placed, that threw great difficulties in the way of my adopting that profession to which I was most inclined, and for which I was perhaps best qualified. I long hoped, depending upon my moderate desires, that the profits of my literary labours, added to the little which I possessed, would have answered all the rational wants of myself and my family. But in this I have been disappointed, and for these causes; firstly, the unexpected pressure of the times, falling most heavily upon men, who have no regular means of increasing their income in proportion; secondly, I had erroneously calculated upon the degree in which my writings were likely to suit the taste of the times; and lastly, much the most important part of my efforts cannot meet the public eye for many years, from the comprehensiveness of the subject. I may also add (but it is scarcely worth while), a fourth reason, viz.: an utter inability on my part to associate with any class or body of literary men, and thus subject myself to the necessity of sacrificing my own judgment, and of lending, even indirectly, countenance

or support to principles, either of taste, politics, morals or religion, which I disapprove; and your lordship is not ignorant that, except writers engaged in mere drudgery, there are scarcely any authors but those associated in this manner, who find literature, at this day, an employment attended with pecuniary gain.

The statement of these facts has been made, as your lordship will probably have anticipated, in order that if any office should be at your disposal (the duties of which would not call so largely upon my exertions as to prevent me from giving a considerable portion of time to study), it might be in your lordship's power to place me in a situation where, with better hope of success, I might advance towards the main object of my life, I mean the completion of my literary undertakings; and thereby contribute to the innocent gratification, and perhaps the solid benefit of many of my countrymen.

I have been emboldened to make this statement from a remembrance that my family has for several generations been honoured by the regard of that of your lordship, and that, in particular, my father and grandfather did, conscientiously I believe, discharge such trusts as were reposed in them from that connection."

In response to this appeal, Lord Lonsdale applied to Mr Long and to Lord Liverpool in Wordsworth's behalf, but failed; and he therefore made a proposal to Wordsworth, which the poet asked time to consider. He had just lost his boy Thomas, and was in deep grief. At length he

wrote

"GRASMERE, Dec. 27, 1812

After mature consideration, I have resolved to trust to the first feelings excited by your letter; these were

rather to owe any addition to my income required by me to your friendship, than to the Government, or to any other quarter where it was not in my power to return what, in the common sentiments of men, would be deemed an equivalent. Asking permission therefore to retract my former determination, which I am encouraged to do by the personal intercourse, and marks of regard with which you have since distinguished me, and by the inscrutable delicacy of your last letter, I feel no scruple in saying that I shall with pride and pleasure accept annually the sum offered by your lordship until the office has become vacant, or some other change takes place in my circumstances, which might render it unnecessary. I cannot forbear to add that I feel more satisfaction from this decision, because my opinions would not lead me to decline accepting a pension from Government on the ground that literary men make some sacrifice of independence by such acceptance, and are consequently degraded. The constitution gives to the crown this power of rewarding acknowledged ability, and it is not possible to imagine a more worthy employment of a certain portion of the revenue. But it seems to me that the provisions made by our Government for the support of literature are far too scanty, and in this respect our practice is much inferior to that of other countries, where talents of importance to mankind and to posterity, but which from that very cause can bring little emolument to the possessor of them, and which demand all the thought of all his life, are undoubtedly (where they are understood), fostered and honoured, even as a point of pride. This is the case in Germany, and in France. Now, as to the general question, it may be laid down as undeniable, that if to bestow be a duty, and an honourable duty, to accept cannot be otherwise than honourable."

On January 8, 1813, he wrote from Grasmere