Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from Bath, to Dora Wordsworth (1804-1847), dated 10-14 April 1839. WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 125.

Wednesday

Dearest D.

Having a little vacant time, Miss F. being preparing a cover to the Colonial – Father having concocted his long talked of letter to Lady Flora, written one to Coz John, to ask him to correct the press of the Ex: & a cover to HCR. enclosing a letter he was entrusted with from Dr St Clair to our friend – I may as well begin a missel to you – as probably an opportunity of a frank may be offered – we being likely to hear from some M Ps after the business of to night is over. – I left you yesterday Tuesday before I went out to Q Sq. where I sate an hour with the Old Ladies – returned to G.S. in a snow shower – a slight one, but dreadfully cold - notwithstanding which Jane & I went to the Bath - & I luxuriated in it for 20 minutes – afterwards found Father in the Pump room having taken his 2d. glass I had mine in my dressing room (our mrng draft we take before breakfast – Mrs P’s carriage was waiting to take me home – she & her sister being out shopping. – we all met (Willy attends the Kings - ie the Great Pump room) we, by a prudent precaution of Father’s take the more mild cross Bath water for the first week) – at our 5 oC dinner – after which poor dear Willy was suffering so much that he could not to the general disappointment, go with us to our Evening visit in Q. Sq – Father & he had a long walk, after Willy’s 11oC Bath, & that, or perhaps his having eat too much animal food at dinner, might make him so dreadfully uncomfortable – his bowels felt to the touch, quite tender – hard & distended - & he describes the feeling, as if the great gut was girded at each end so that no passage existed - & he is not quite yet 11 oC PM relieved – however, we still hope if the weather would improve Bath might be serviceable – He is going to give up animal food altogether to try the effect.

We met the nice family of Mitchel at Miss Pollard’s & passed a pleasant evening – We are now (tho’ I will decline if they will let me) going to call upon Miss Johnson – a nice Lady a Carlisle friend of Willy’s, whom we met in the Park, & who next day called upon us. To our dismay a note is come from that Mr Reade, who sent the Deluge &c - & whose poems father has never read - & whom he dreaded to meet with. We dine at Mr Popham’s. When I told you yesterday to send my letter to Brigham, - I only meant of course, parts solely relating to ourselves – not about Willy’s affair of course.

Thursday mg Alas for the Copyright! – a letter from the Sergeant – only 28 in the house shame upon all [caprice] friends the sergt is going to publish his speeches &c in a pamphlet – Sir Rt. & he mean to fix another day, but it cannot be for a fortnight – on acct. of the struggle of next week, & he says “we have lost the best opportunity of carrying the bill thro’ the Committee Warburton & the enemies kept aloof, knowing they might easily be at hand to do us harm” – Well! if poor Willy was but well, & you go on improving I should care little about this, I fear Bath will not do much for him he is most uncomfortable, & I think looks worse every day – but he will try the Waters a little longer, unless Mr. Tudor upon whom he is going to call with Father to day, says otherwise – we had a great assemblage of cousins & nieces in the evening (we dined) at Mr Popham’s & they meet again here this evening. Our dear friend is gone to spend the morng with her sister – who has a bad cold & looks ill, & indeed

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I regret to say that this very cold weather is beginning to tell upon our dear friend also – She is gone in a Chair of course. I will go & sit a while with the Pollards when the gentlemen go out. – Friday – the parcel came yesterday – charged 7/8 – (5-10 first mark) Father says this must be charged to the office I do not know if this is quite fair – Our [[?]] large party went off very well last night, & poor Willy was better – but I do not think that Bath – the waters at least suit him – I think we Rydalians shall be the better for it – I hope my next may tell you of our plans, but I have not heard from yr. Aunt or Brinsop – it is very mortifying this entanglement with Cirencester – or your Father might have gone with me thither to B. – And this morning has brought us such a pressing petition from Eliz. Fisher who are alas at Salisbury – however yr. Father will go one day & return the next to Bath, the distance about 36 miles. Your letter thro’ the Colonial Office is not yet arrived – We feel as if a horse was necessary to Willy – Your Father says he will aid him to keep one – he, W. will be glad, if so, that he should be able, on his return, to get the one of Mr Featherstone’s he told us about, which would serve his purpose, & should he be removed from C. it would suit you so beautifully - & with this feeling he would like to write about it – but the expence of keeping it till he wants puts a bar to this wish. – I think (we have been talking on the subject) that we shall go to Brinsop Willy & I on the last Monday or Tuesday in the month, Miss T Your Father about the middle of the week to Salisbury, & on Friday to Cirencester - & we meet again God willing at Oxford, on the following Monday – this is the present sketch –

If you will send the Excursion Vol: of our rough set of Poems by Mr Hewitson, directed either to the care of Moxon or to Grosvenor Sq – if there are any corrections in it, or if I.C. can make any, your Father would like it, to take to I. Wordsworth to whom he has written about his correcting the press - & at the same time he promised that he should return by Cam: - as it seems it would be very agreeable to dear Miss F. – Willy heard at Birmg of Louisa’s intended marriage, but he understood it was to a brother of Sophy’s – from Mrs [Feares] letter it appears to be a Cousin. Dear Kate’s letter is an ungenial one, I wish that Marriage was over – Miss F’s account of Mrs Villiers is any thing but good – Dr. Ferguson says that her case is one of Jephson’s few failures – tho’ few his may be, I should fear poor Willys might prove one of them - & he shall first see Dr. F. Father is gone to sign his account with Mr. Popham – at 12 I go with Miss Pollard to the rooms to a school examination, then we make a call upon Mrs M. Willes who, I have at learnt lives near to the Mr Reade, upon whom Father is bound to call - & he wants to get it over, & decline all proffered civilities. And now I must reserve the remainder till near post time – as meanwhile I hope to receive your letter – Miss F. is writing a note to you also – Dear W. has made 2 or 3 painful attempts to fulfil a promise of writing to S. Crackenthorpe – compassion led me yesterday to take the office upon myself – which will be a disappointment – but tho’ a disappointment, I took care that it should not be an expence for I sent the letter thro’ the sergt. – I told her yr. father meant to write to Eliz F. – her letter only arrived as I have said, this morng – 3 oC – Yr. Coll letter not arrived – the other came while I was with Mrs Willes – he has read it, but I have not seen him since – I will not speak of Q’s proposal – but I wish you had not brought forward the Southeys – as he may readily reply – their husbands are young men & have a profession independent of their power (as is proved) to encrease their income – by which means they can insure their lives. Of course I shall not suggest this only regret you have alluded to it. Heaven bless you.

Sunday, Mr Powell has offered to forward your letters – so that these shall be sent thro him the other direct – perhaps you may receive them together the Col:l letter not arrived – Mr T. must be from home – Willy is a little better this mg – he will not use the bath or the water again – Father is wonderfully free from inconvenience in his eyes - & walks everlastingly – Bless you bless you take care of yourself & - Tell us more precisely about Dorothy’s health - & Anns proceedings – I am

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glad you have got a substitution

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 125