Wordsworth, Dora (1804-1847). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Elizabeth Crumpe, at Queen Anne Street, Liverpool, dated 27 December 1824. WLL / Wordsworth, Dora / 1 / 6

Rydal Mount

Decr. 27th. 1824

My dear Elizabeth

I hope you have not been looking for a letter from me. I have long wished to write but to tell you the truth I did not feel myself justified in so after making you pay postage for such worthless stupid trash. Thank you dear Elizabeth for the watch, gloves, feathers, all of which were received in due time I fear you had much trouble about them. I have not seen Mary Anne Arnold since she came home, but I suppose she returns to Liverpool if so I take care to discharge my money debts thro' her (my trouble debts I fear I shall never be able to discharge) -

Shall I or shall I not congratulate you on your escape (at least for the present) from a voyage to India - I congratulate myself upon still having my dear Elizabeth within a hundred miles of me - putting self out of the question I feel convinced it is for the best you say you did not love him, & to make one happy or even able

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to leave Father, Mother, Sisters, & Brothers, for such a length of time & such a length of distance! must require no common degree of love & affection! I think were I in your situation I should like & esteem, the Dr. the more, for not having disclosed his sentiments, this was indeed honorable! but I have said enough on this subject, what pleases me most in the whole affair is that he has left you in your own dear Isle.

Our Chapel was opened on Christmas day. I never was out in such a storm nor does my Father ever remember experiencing so violent a one - my Lady walked thro' it all - how thoroughly she must have been imprest with the utility of her work! on that account the day could not have been better - Fletcher Fleming is a Treasure in these parts where, as my Father says, we are so ill parson'd, he is very earnest, has a remarkably distinct articulation & good voice - his fault is reading too slowly - this is a good fault however - before the Sermon he gave us a most beautiful prayer - praying for the "bountiful Foundress of the Edifice" &c &c this reminded one of College Abbies &c &c - The Sermon was very good it was unfortunate for him its being Christmas day as he had too subjects to treat, both the day & the Chapel & my Lady - he managed it wonderfully. Yesterday

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he gave us a beautiful Sermon the text "Worship, the Lord in the beauty of Holyness" -

To give you an idea of the quantity of rain that fell on Christmas day - Imagine yourself at the door of the low Waterfall & the Water rushing thro' the Window as if it were the bed of the River, this is as I saw it after Evening Service. it was truly awful -

Hartley has only been once at Rydal since he came home, he has been confined with the mumps but this is not sufficient excuse "where there's a will there's a way" - he has found his way to the Whites, Hardens, Newtons &c. Brother John has been at home more than a fortnight and he has never found been to see him tho he has called more than once at his lodgings poor fellow I am not angry with him but sorry, very sorry, that he does not know his duty better I fear he does know it, but that he has not strength to do it - it is most melancholy - H- is invited to meet us at Mr. Robinsons this Evening I dare say he will not shew his face - I have seen nothing of your Friends at Brathey for this age but I understand that the old Lady has been ill she is better now John called upon them on Thursday - he brought us the bad news of the death of Professor Wilson's Mother, but knew not when she died, or how, or where,- I know not whether Jane

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Jane [sic] is returned - Mrs. White & Sophia are still in Yorkshire, poor Fanny is at home taking charge of Howard no easy task I should imagine Hartley goes every evening to Howard - I guess Fanny has more of his company & conversation than H- I suppose you know Marshall has left Ambleside he is now in Edinburgh where he remains the Winter & Spring then goes to Ireland & talks of Egypt & I know not where - it is reported that Jane Harden & he were Lovers - Have you seen anything of Eliza Dickson, I know no one more to be pitied than she is Julia Myers who is spending her Holydays with us tells me that Jessy Harden is only going to Miss Dowlings as a day border for the future, This seems to me a great pity - She runs a good chance of being spoiled at home her home is almost the most indulgent one that ever was - Joseph I understand stayed at Cambridge this vacation & has a private Tutor

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I had a most tender loving epistle from your Bosom Friend the "old Wife" a week ago he in now in Cornwall and does not seem in any hurry to return - I am sorry to say that poor Mary Kirby expects every day to be confined this is one cause why Mr K- has staid so long away it is very lucky for Mary that he is away -

Such dreadful wet weather it seems to have no end - it is now raining as if it had never rained before - most unhealthy weather every one ill in Ambleside - poor Mr. Cowper is dead Typhus fever was the beginning of his illness but it was disease which that left

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that killed him

I had a letter from my Aunt Sara yesterday bad accounts of poor Mr. Monkhouse, I fear there is now no hope the matter which he expectorated is now streaked with blood - he is however wonderfully strong & he is going almost imperceptibly -

All our family join me in best love to you & your whole circle & with best wishes for a merry Christmas & a happy new year

Believe me dear Elizabeth your ever most affectionate & sincere Friend

Dora Wordsworth

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I never say don't read or shew any of my scrawls to any body as I always believe you do not do so & I trust I am not mistaken

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The idea of enclosing our Mountains is I believe at an end, it is agreed that they are to apply to Parliament for an act to make of them a stinted pasture & to allow them to sell as much of the Common as will pay all expences (writing upside-down)

Miss Elizabeth Crumpe,

Queen Anne St.,

Liverpool.

<Miss D. Wordsworth to Eliz. Crump. Dec. 27. 1824. E.C's. 1st engagement broken. From Rydal Mount.>

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Dora / 1 / 6