Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from 7 Upper Spring St, Baker St, to Isabella Fenwick, dated 18 June (1841). WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 139.

7 Upper Spring St, Baker St

June 18 <1841>

My dearest Friend

As I find you have not heard of Dora, her Husband & his Daughter’s sudden flight from Rydal, you will be surprised when you hear that I am now writing from their lodgings – where they arrived safe & well via railway yesterday morng at 6 oC. – Business called Mr Q. to town, & on the whole, I am glad to see them here, rather than that our parting should have taken place, after only a day or two being together at Rydal – Here I shall see much of her during next week, while we remain in Town, & something also, I hope, while we are at Harrow & Hampstead, whither we are to go on Wed. the 30th the two previous days are to be passed by Wm. & myself at Fulham in discharge of a promise made long ago, to the Bishop. Dearest friend how thankful shall we both, I trust, be, to be seated together once more at Rydal Mt.

We came to Regent St Park last night, having dined in Blandford Sq – the nicest visit we have paid – Only consisting of Mr & Mrs Ettish, Aubrey de Vere (an interesting nephew of Ld Monteagle) & that dear Man Mr. Villiers, with whose sweet wife we had previously taken our luncheon - & tho’ I fear she is much of an Invalid, she was looking much better than I had expected to see her - & what a sweet pair (I do not mean beautiful) that little Brother & Sister are! We went to Cumberland Terrace from Brook St. – where we had been since Monday – [Partyeying] every day as was

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our fate to be doing, during our residence in Grosvenor St & yet all this without Wm. being the least the worse for it – tho’ the usual murmurings went on in our retirements. But his good looks are the admiration of all his Friends – I will defer all particulars of who & what we have seen till we meet – only I must tell you, that among the host of strange faces, I was alway glad when H.T. whom I like more & more every time I see him, made his way to me – And that Q. & D. breakfasted with us this mg at Miss R’s – where among some others they met, that, I had almost said, Baffoon, Sidney Smith Lockart & Rogers – I have walked home with them – Wm. gone to Stafford Ho: - by the Duchess Duchess at Sutherlands invitation to Luncheon & to see the house & pictures & when he returns we go to Miss Gillies to have the Picture (Darby & Joan) [being] touched up, before Dora goes – they have these lodgings for a month taken by the Br. whose business of course brought them hither & he provides a Carriage for Ds & Rotha’s need. Poor Rothas face is in a dreadful state – surely some mitigation may be found for the great inflammation – but one is fearful of tampering with such things. Mr Q. however is going to have the best advice he can get. The poor child is in other respects

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so unattractive in appearance, that indeed it is painful to look at her.

Now dearest friend it is time I should enquire after you, & why we have not heard from you? I trust no indisposition had deterred you from writing fearing to give us uneasiness – indeed we wish much to hear about you – so many enquiries too after you - & what are we to say? You have never told us if you were pleased with dear Corrie's engagement – she is the happiest of the happy, & the waiting for a Living will be waived - & I think, according to Mrs Ms & my settling, the marriage is likely to take place in the Autumn, & they to live either at Patterdale Hall or Tent Lodge – by the bye this reminds me, that I found the mystery, in Mary’s letter to you, no secret when we reached Grosvenor St, & you will smile when I tell you that when Jemmy called with William upon Dr. F. to talk about his back – which by the bye was nothing but little knot of pustules occasioned by heat & exertion during our delightful tour - & was soon well, He James, took the opportunity, in W’s presence to consult about the accouchment &c &c. The Mrs Marshalls have all been sadly disturbed & distressed by John their son’s Widow having made an imprudent marriage under, I may say, discreditable circumstances, ungrateful for all the Affection with which she has been treated by her late Husband’s family – disgraceful, as especially considered by her own – The

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Person she has married is an assistant surgeon in a marching Regt. & an Irishman of low extraction - & as far as Ld Monteagles information from that Country is to be trusted, of not very honourable conduct. Corrie’s engagement which is a great delight to them all occurred in happy time to avert the distress of the other affair - & of course often gave a turn to our feelings which was pleasant during our stay under that friendly roof. I parted from both houses when the several Ladies were dressed to attend the levee – Mrs M. with her two Married Daughters Lady M., who looks the youngest of all the sisters, & Mrs Temple. Corrie with her Love, & Susan were gone with Wm. to keep his wedding day in the Country, & Ellen was also with a friend in the Country.

Lord M. kindly interested himself in my enquiries about the schools for our nephew, by writing to Dr King – Pupils are not admitted until 14 years of age & then – but as my paper is nearly exhausted I will end the answer – Ld. M. mentioned another preparatory school at Glasgow, which I shall enquire about - & dear Corrie will try to serve the two elder Girls. So I hope we may succeed for some of them Poor things – Which will make my sister very happy. Dora says she was far from well – but I had a cheerful letter from her to day God bless you dr friend with love & kind wishes around you ever your M Wordsworth

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When W. comes in & hears I have written to you his question will be have you said all loving things from me. – Do write however briefly

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Doras dear love – I am ashamed of this black-looking sheet.

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 139