Wordsworth, Dora (1804-1847). - Letter, from Nottingham, to Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885), at Trinity College, dated 29 April 1831 (year from postmark). WLL / Wordsworth, Dora / 1 / 34

Nottingham

Friday 29th April

My dear Chris:

I dont write to dear Uncle knowing how very precious his moments are; nor should I have intruded upon you so soon had I not thought of the old saying "bad news travels fast" fearing therefore that thro' some channel you might hear of the slow progress some of us make towards the "north countrie" - you might imagine matters were worse with us than they really are though bad enough.

From Mr Rose who kindly assisted us in lifting my poor Mother into the Coach you probably may have heard of the condition in which she left Cambridge. We thought the journey would cure her or certainly we should not have started that morning - As far as Stamford she did tolerably there we changed coaches and were put into a two horse concern, which proved a most uneasy conveyance & occasioned her so much pain it was dreadful to witness. Father & I both got inside to try to steady it, but it was in vain, & she was on the rack the whole way to this place (40 miles) - on arriving at the Inn we got her to her room I know not how - her night wretched. Father found out his unknown poetical Admirers William & Mary Howitt - they sent a Physician (who set our minds at ease by assuring us it was lumbago & sciatica we feared from the excessive pain it might be internal inflammation) & insisted on our removing to their house. The Hospital hearse-like sedan was brought to the door - but in attempting to rise she fainted so her strange carriage was sent away - by aid of composing drafts &c we got her up

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in the [evening] & into an arm chair buried in blankets - & thus she was chaired through the town of Nottingham & the mob which had collected round us before reaching this door was not to be sure quite so large as that which attended this afternoon at the chairing of the "Idol of the people" Denman! the sweet Denman! & Ferguson - they were returned without opposition - but I will tell you more about this when I have finished my melancholy history.

Till today my Mother has not been able to get up; always pleasing to faint away - but I am thankful to say is so much better that now she can sit up for an hour or more at once - tho' still it gives her very great pain to move. & when we are to set forth on our travels again I am at a loss to guess. Father and Rotha left us on Wednesday & hoped to reach Rydal Thursday Evening. We are in most delightful quarters. Nothing can exceed the kindness of our Host & Hostess - they are "Friends" not tho' in the least rigid ones - Mrs Howitt is a charming Creature much the most fascinating of the Authoresses I have seen - but alas she is a red hot Reformist & we are in a hot bed of Reformists - in a wasps nest positively, & it drives me mad to hear of the "enlightened mob" - "the poor neglected" "their rights trampled upon". "laws made for the rich & not for the poor" now they

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"members will be returned who have the interests of the poor at heart" &c &c - could you but look down from this window on the crowd that surrounds Denman's carriage at this moment he with hat off & hurraing & bowing & shaking his fists - & a thousand other gentlemanly antics you wd be horrified - surrounded by flags bearing inscriptions like these "The voice of the people omnipotent" "Reform triumphant over corruption" "The reforming king." "The King & the people" "If our enemies triumph it shall be over our graves" - &c no carriage but their own [[-?-]]is in attendance. I saw their entry into the town - no carriages - but a few gentlemen on horseback the immense crowd was composed of stockingers lace girls & children - pitiable to behold - but they behaved very well indeed - but we know the old gentlemen even is well behaved when all goes his own way - Probably you have heard that Sadler has retired from Newark & is to stand for Borough bridge. I am sorry to say the Reform Candidate (for Newark) Wilde I think his name was far a head at the close of the first days poll, but I must stop your time is of too much importance to be thus occupied

Our kindest love to dear Uncle & a thousand thousand thanks for the many happy & quiet days we have passed under his roof & with sincere hopes that he is not

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suffering very much from his irksome & laborious duties - we remain dear Chris your affectionate Aunt & Cousin

Mary & D Wordsworth

Have you heard from Paris & how is John.

Christopher Wordsworth Esqre

Trinity College

Cambridge.

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Dora / 1 / 34