Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1855) ; William Wordsworth (1770-1850) ms, dwj Brown leather notebook of descriptions and notes by Dorothy Wordsworth in her hand, and verse by William Wordsworth in his hand (65 leaves). 1800-1803. Contains part of Dorothy's Grasmere journal, May 1802 - Jan 1803, and Wordsworth's fair copies of material for 'Michael' and 'Ruth'. Size 185mm x 112mm (hxw). An oblong, brown-leather-bound notebook with a hinged metal clasp, used for DW'sjournal. May 4, 1802, to January 16, 1803. Most of the other entries are in WW's hand. Originally the notebook seems to have contained 88 leaves in 11 gatherings of eight; there are now 65 leaves intact, 2 leaves partially torn away, and 21 stubs. Two other stubs, seemingly not of the same paper and not part of the gatherings of eight, are at the very back of the notebook. What little of the watermark is visible suggests a crowned shield over CR. A pink blottingpaper interleaf stands between each pair of original leaves, except at the centers of gatherings, where there are two such interleaves. This notebook was first used for fair copies of 'Michael' material. A full text of 'Michael' may have stood at the back of the notebook on much of two gatherings now removed (stubs 88-74); if once present, it would have been copied there by mid-December 1800, when MS. 1800 (Beinecke Library, Yale University) was sent to the printer. Fair copies mainly in WW's hand, of overflow verse composed during or shortly after work on 'Michael' begin on the first extant leaf (5r) at the other end of the notebook. After skipped pages later used for DW's journal. 'The Matron s Tale' on 11r (revision on 10v to 14r. These fair copies were probably written into the notebook after December 19, 1800, but before April 9,1801. Work for Ruth on 14v and 15r probably belongs to March 4-7, and was certainly in the notebook before DW'sJournal entry for May 5, 1802. On leaves 72 and 71 William copied quotations from Descartes and Daniel Sennertus in February 1801. Dorothy Wordsworth's journal begins on 9r-l0r, skips pages already used for 'The Matron's Tale' and 'Ruth', begins again on 15v, and concludes on 71r. See below for a full list of the contents of this manuscript (DCMS 31.1-31.4). Provenance: Bequest of Gordon Graham Wordsworth, 1935 Exhibited: Dorothy Wordsworth: Wonders of the Everyday, The Wordsworth Trust, 2013-4 Dorothy Wordsworth, Liverpool Victoria Art Gallery and Museum, 2014-5, Cat. number: RW Literature: Butler, J.Green, K.1992, The Cornell Wordsworth, Cornell University Press, Lyrical Ballads, and Other Poems, 1797-1800 (p.xxvi-xxvii, 25, 694-709) Ed. Pamela Woof2002, Dorothy Wordsworth, The Grasmere and Alfoxden Journals, Oxford University Press, See also: DCMS 31.1 ('Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal: May 1802 - Jan 1803' by Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1855)) DCMS 31.2 ('Michael' by William Wordsworth (1770-1850), published first line 'If from the public way you turn your steps') DCMS 31.3 ('The Matron's Tale' by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)) DCMS 31.4 ('Ruth' by William Wordsworth (1770-1850), published first line 'When Ruth was left half desolate') DCMS 19 (Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal; 14 February - 2 May 1802.) DCMS 20 (Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal; 14 May - 22 December 1800.) DCMS 25 (Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal; 10 October 1801 - 14 February 1802.)

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Reference DCMS 31