Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Elizabeth Crump, at Queen Ann Street, Liverpool, dated 22 November 1824 (year written in another hand). WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 1 / 63.

Rydal Mount

Novr. 22d <1824>

My dear Elizabeth

Here we are safely arrived at home, & the only drawback to the pleasure I have in the feeling, is, that we have not fulfilled our intention of visiting you all at Liverpool, by the way.- But after our delightful tour, which was protracted the length of three weeks, on our arrival at Hindwell we found Mr. T. Monkhouse there in so alarming a state of health as to throw a damp over all our future proceedings- he is I am grieved to tell you, now in Devonshire with his wife & my Sister Sarah travelling slowly, but I fear surely, to the grave. This being his situation we were induced to prolong our stay as long as he remained with his friends- & when we departed from Hindwell circumstances which I need not detail led us to return by Coleorton- From that place, we encouraged the hope that we should (till the very last) of proceeding home by Liverpool therefore we did not write to you- but upon enquiring about the Coaches we found that the one to Liverpool did not reach that place till midnight & as Mr W. had become so anxious about Doro's cold (which thro' all our travels, & change of place, had never left her) he durst not risk trust her to the danger of night travelling besides on account of our long, long absence he was quite restless for us to be at home & on many accounts

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indeed it was quite necessary. Thus my dear Eliz: are we disappointed of the great pleasure we expected in passing a few days amongst you.- Poor Doro was so exceedingly mortified, that she could not write till I had broken the ice for her- I dare say ere long she will you will hear from her when she will give you some account of our travels which were thoroughly delightful. We reached home last Saturday week, found all well & whether it was the prospect of drinking the air of home or the wild weather we travelled thro' I cannot say, but so it is, that this last journey has quite removed all trace of cold in Doro- Mr W's eyes too are in their best state, & we shall very soon feel ourselves fairly set in for an industrious & quiet winter after our idle wanderings.

Mrs Luff is here, she goes at the end of the week to pass a couple of months with the Askews at Greystoke- then she returns, & will for a time be in the midst of a happy bustle in preparing her new residence she having at length accomplished her wish to purchase Fox ghyll- the important bargain was struck on Saturday- she has bought the house & field on which it stands, & I have no doubt she will make it a pretty place- Mr Wm Jackson has been the successful Negotiator- She begs her kindest remembrances to you

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all. We hope for the pleasure of a visit from Mr W. Jackson during the Christmas Holidays- I trust that all the wet weather will be over before that time, it has scarcely ceased raining since we came into the Country, & it is quite melancholy to see the devastation which the late storms have made in the woods of Rydal- fine Oaks & Pines are lying with huge masses of earth attached to them- in the wood thro' which her Ladyship's new walks are carried- as if there had been a war among the giants in that quarter- Our own snug domain has escaped, & it looks as bonny as ever.

I have no general news to tell you, indeed I have seen no one of our neighbours who is known to you since our return, therefore if I find I cannot get this stupid scrawl sent to you by some irregular way, thro' Wilson Morris, I shall very much grudge putting you to the expence of postage- Yet I should be very loth that you remain ignorant of our having taken the direct way home. Doro bids me say that if an opportunity should occur she will thank you to send the things which she left at Liverpool, with a statement of what she is in your debt- & I must say the same to one of your brothers, I know not which, with whom I left a watch to be repaired- & express to them both our lively remembrance of the

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hospitable reception & entertainment they afforded us at the commencement of our journey- & how sorry we are that out visit in Queen Ann St was not repeated.

Believe me dr Eliz, with affec regards to your Father Mother & Sisters from us all to be very sincerely yours M. Wordsworth

P.S. We found dear E Cookson much in the same state as when we left home- She was removed for a few weeks by canal to Lancaster in the Autumn, but the change, produced little effect- hers is a strange & a melancholy case- she looks beautiful, & is cheerful & always employed My sister Joanna has left her, she went from Rydal to Stockton last Saturday.

Miss E. Crumpe

Queen Ann St.

Liverpool

<Fr. Miss M. Wordsworth, the Poet's Sister Fr. Rydal Mt Nov.22 1822 1824 Return home From Mrs (Mary) Wordsworth>

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 1 / 63