Wordsworth, Dora (1804-1847). - Letter, from Trinity Lodge, to Edward Quillinan (1791-1851), at Lee Priory, Wingham, Kent, dated 11 May 1824. WLL / Wordsworth, Dora / 1 / 5

Trinity Lodge

May 11th

Mr Dear Mr Quillinan

I was much grieved to learn from Mr Bridges this morning that your two little Darlings were suffering from colds, as they had withstood all the miserable weather there was, before our visit to Lee. I had hoped they would have escaped; the morning I parted from dearest Mima Mrs Lucas said to me she feared that Jemima had caught a little cold, but I trust it has not been hanging about her ever since that time; if you have not more genial weather at Lee than we have here today I fear there is not much chance of their quickly getting rid of them, it blows a cold East wind which cuts through you & this being as different to the warm sunshine we have had since our arrival here makes us feel it the more.

We have seen a good deal of Mr Bridges; he took a long walk the other day with my Aunt & Cousin & myself he made my Cousin stare a little with the odd way he talked about the "Tailors" "Carpenters" "Bakers" &c. & about there being "only one gentleman in the College". You will be glad however to hear that his Tutor tells our Father he is reading very hard whether this is the case or no, I can't say but it certainly does not correspond

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with the account he gives of himself But I trust he makes himself out to be worse than he really is - by the bye I must not forget to tell you of our again making our friends ashamed of us - We came from London on the outside of the coach it rained heavily all the way until we got within ten Miles of Cambridge, so you will know what our appearance must have been, & just as we were entering the town we passed Mr Bridges walking with a good many of his friends, he recognised us & was polite enough to move, What must his Friends have thought of us!! I am sure [[words crossed out]] was much too condescending to take any notice of such Ragamuffin looking people -

We took a delightful walk last night heard the Nightingale to almost as great perfection as you have them Lee, I cannot express the feeling of delight & pleasure I had in listening to them & when we were obliged to leave them it was positively tearing ourself away I am sure I could have stood all night listening & not have been wearied.

How does your fishing go on. Mr Tillbrooke hearing me tell John that you were beginning or rather learning to fish cried out "Oh tell Mr Quillinan I'll come & be his private Tutor at a hundred a year". but seriously speaking Mr Tillbrooke expressed a great wish to see you I said I thought it was probable you might come to Cambridge to see Mr Bridges, so if you do come be sure not to forget Peter House Mr .T - would be sadly disappointed if you were to be in Cambridge & he not see you - I am sure you would like him exceedingly -

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I wish you knew something more of my dear good Uncle if you did I am convinced your opinion of him would be completely changed, now that I have been more with him I see more of his sweet & amiable disposition & I do assure you it quite hurts me to think that you & many others should think so differently of him from what he deserves - I suppose the young Men don't like him because he is too anxious about their welfare - - & makes regulations which dont quite suit their Lazy habits, such as going to Chapel &c -

We had a nice letter from my Mother a day or two ago with a good account of herself & Willy I must transcribe a passage from it which I know will amuse you not a little tho' I think it is very savage in me as you take such a delight in laughing at the poor Man!! I think I have told you that Barber rode with me from Church on Sunday - but only part of the way for we met the Douglas' Carriage - with Mrs D. Mrs J Harden, Miss Waller inside. Mr H. Mr D. on the box all going to the Cottage - he would return they unwilling - saying it would be ungallant to me - I readily excused, glad they would have been to have dispensed with his Company evidently - however he went - & long did I hear his bawling above the wheels - however soon (as the Tale goes) A malicious May breeze swept off both cap & wig to the no small delight of the party in the Carriage - the servant flew after the vagrants & poor B. was for some time in a sad quandary, for it was no easy matter for him to make his poney stand till all was adjusted when with modest confusion but good address he rode up to the Carriage & congratulated the party upon their being so much better able to secure their wigs - John Gilpin they say never cut a better figure!! - I wish I was with you to see you read this

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passage -.

Have you seen anything of the Monkhouses tell them that my Aunt will write when the day for their departure is fixed it will most probably be on Tuesday or Wednesday next. My Uncle goes up to town on Wednesday & I shall go with him this is lucky for me -

It is most likely I shall come to Ramsgate the only thing that reconciles me to this visit is that I shall have a chance of seeing you & yr two little treasures, for it will be a most uncomfortable disagreeable visit as I plainly saw that neither Mrs M. nor Miss H wished me to go - Mrs M. just said to me "are we to see you at Ramsgate"? my Father was in the room & made some objections - & she did not even say I hope to see you but just, "I leave it entirely to yourselves to settle" - the truth is I suppose She & Miss H. think I shall be a Spoil Sport in their contrivances - I know nothing more disagreeable than to feel yourself where you know you are not wanted - indeed where you are I may say a complete Nuisance which will be my case when I get if I ever do to Ramsgate -

My paper is now filled with what

a heap of stupidity I am ashamed to send it - My Aunt sends her love & hopes you will answer this before we leave Cambridge that she also may have the pleasure of yr letter I should not I assure you have presumed to hope for an answer to such a worthless scrawl. (writing at 90 degrees)

With best love to yourself & kisses without and to yr dearest of all Darlings Believe me yr most affectionately [signature part-obscured by sealing wax] worth

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I transcribe what my Father wrote in O'Callaghans Album, I did this before at Lee but very stupidly brought it away with me. In the first Page of an Album by one whose handwriting is wretchedly bad. First flower of the year is that which shows Its rival whiteness mid surrounding snows; To guide the shining Company of Heaven, Brightest as first appears the star of Even; Upon imperial brows the richest gem Stands forever foremost in the Diadem; How then could mortal so unfit engage To take his station in this leading page? For others martial with his pen the way Which shall be trod in many a future day! Why was not some fair Lady called to write

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Dear words, for memory "characters of light"? Lines which enraptured fancy might explore And thence create her Image! But no more; Strangers! forgive the deed an unsought task, For what you look on Friendship designed to ask.

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Regards to Mrs Lucas.

Pray write for we are anxious to know how the Darlings are (writing upside-down)

Edward Quillinan Esqr.,

Lee Priory,

Wingham,

Kent.

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