Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Jane Marshall (1771-1847), at Hallsteads, Penrith, dated 28 June 1836 (year in another hand). WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 92.

Rydal Mount

June 28th <1836>

My dear Friend

When I know that you are drawing towards our Mountains - I always feel a desire to be among the first to give you welcome to Hallsteads - & at this time more especially am I impelled to write, having so much to thank you for, for all the care, friendly & affectionate attention you & yours have given to my dear Husband. I well know that it was a gratification to you all to minister to his comforts; nevertheless we all, himself included, cannot but feel how very much we owe to your kindness while he was your Inmate in Grosvenor Street - for it is not to be denied that he is somewhat of a troublesome Guest. I do not know if, when you parted with Mr W. his mind was fully made up to return home before he prosecuted his purpose to go to Italy - from his last letters he seems (altho' he had not seen his intended fellow-traveller which I think was necessary that he should do, before the final determination) resolved to return to Rydal before they start - & that he will be with us next week - We regret this, especially as he tells us he wants repose - & this we are persuaded he would find in travel, rather than at home - During his absence

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happily the worry & agitating feelings which his poor Sister's state kept him in, have in part passed from his thoughts - but alas [[-?-] ]in her there is no change, as far as this sad strife after what cannot be had - Still enough exists in our own dear Dorothy to make his home any thing but a place of rest for one who feels so keenly for her. Therefore we greatly wished he should have gone abroad to gather fresh feelings & images to divert his mind (which we know would more than aught else be likely so to do) thro' the winter. He talks of starting again for the Continent at the end of September - but when at home again, I do not think he will have the Courage to quit it so soon. However, in this world of change - we may hereafter have reason to think that he had decided wisely. He will I trust find his sister looking as well - perhaps stouter, than when he left her - but there has been no decided strengthening in the mind - yet, as he will have told you, she is often acute, & as much her own dear self as ever - tho' alas the pleasure to us is of short continuance. Yet, except occasionally, she is quite happy & merry which is a blessing to us all - This is an entertaining day for her; as, in consequence of the noises she makes (the strength of her voice would astonish you) we have

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been induced to change her sitting-room to the back part of the house - to prevent the sounds reaching the ears of the Tourists & others, who we have lately observed, stand & look up - & it is remarkable in her, that her delight is to attract attention, & whenever she knows (& she finds out every thing) strangers are in the house - or grounds - she is determined to make herself heard.

I think my dear friend I may say that Dora is much better since the two last applications of the leeches - this system, there is no doubt, is of immediate benefit - but whether it may not in the end produce debility, with other unfavourable results, remains to be proved. We can only rest upon hope in God's mercy, & at present I feel that hope, on her account, with cheerfulness.

It will be a gratification to us to hear from you that you are all well after your long journey, & that you found those dear friends who proceeded you, at Old Church & Patterdale not the worse for their travel - Six Children! already at Patterdale - really it is awful, & to think of 3 being at Workington -

Our friends the Arnolds are not expected at Foxghyll till the 16th of July - as they have a visit first to pay to their Relatives on the Isle of Wight - & as they, I believe, mean to visit their friend the Archbishop of Dublin, during the vacation their residence in Westd. must be a very short one - scarcely, I should say long enough to repay them for

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the perils of so long a journey with such a family! But they are a party who have the happy gift of gathering for themselves, a very great deal of pleasure, in a very short space of time.

We hear that the new Church at Keswick is getting forward - I sincerely trust the good Builder thereof, is making progress towards health. How glad shall we be hear of that being quite re-established, & of your anxieties on account of so valuable a son, being at rest.

Pray tell dear Mary Ann that the Tea, which she announced as being sent off to us, has never arrived - Goods generally reach us, by Canal, from London to Kendal in 9 or 10 days - so that this useful & valuable present must be delayed somewhere - it will find its way in time I doubt not.

With our united kind love to all around you believe me ever dr. Mrs M. to be affly yours M Wordsworth

I ought to apologize for my shabby paper & [blanding] letter

<Rydal Mount June 28th Mr Wordsworth's journey to Italy Miss W's state> <probably 136>

Mrs. Marshall

Hallsteads

Penrith

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 92