Hutchinson, Sara (1775-1835). - Letter, from an unstated address, to John Monkhouse, at Stow, Nr Hay, Brecon, dated August 1816. WLL / Hutchinson, Sara / 1 / 27a.

Tuesday Evg

My dear John

You say truly that I have long talked of writing - but at last you will I hope say that I have made up for it by writing out for you such a nice Ballad, which you may read over & over again & therefore will be, just as many times as you read it, so much better than a letter - I did not ask Tillbroke's leave to send the poem but as you are not likely to part with it out of your hands I will send it without asking, lest I should be refused. We are all well - and yesterday, and this morning also, were rejoicing in the prospect of fine weather; but alas! this afternoon what a change! we have had nothing but rain for four hours. How I grieve for all your nice Clover! But I will not say one word about the bad times - 'tis of no use whatever! I received a letter from Mary yesterday and I find you continue to enjoy yourselves as well as we who have no agricultural cares. Tell her, as it is not likely that I shall be in the humour to write again very soon, that I recd. the 22£ & I am sorry she sent it - as Jack has sent 20£ belonging to Joanna, which would have done the needful at present - and I know cash is not over and above plentiful at Hindwell - I think we have not been three days without a fire this summer - to be sure our neighbours are less extravagant in this than we - but I am sure there has been no comfort without one - yet the country never looked more beautiful than has done throughout the whole of this year - for the constant rain or rather showers - for it has not been much downright - here kept the grass in its spring hue, and rare the foliage unusually luxuriant. I am glad to find that there are other people who can say "oh dear!" at a beautiful prospect as often, or oftener than I can - I wish I could have managed to have accompanied your Tom that I might have edified him by exclamations.

Sunday 11th. It is quite true that I have not had a moment's leisure to finish my letter till the present since it was begun - we have never been without company - Southey and a Mr. Nashhave been with us till yesterday – and we had company to meet them at dinner every day – besides Mrs. Ellwood who arrived on Friday & is now [[?]] on which day also, in addition, we had a party of 8 dropped in to breakfast at 11 o'clock So what with entertaining company & doing a little, which is very needful in the house we are blest with wretched servants, you may grasp that none of us have been [] Oh this weather! It really is more than serious now! it is really melancholy - last night the rain fell in torrents - and it looks as if it would come on again this evening - we could not go to church today but had an excellent chaplain & Deacon Tillbrook & William, & therefore lost nothing; as the old person was the reformer at Grasmere - But you would be surprised to see what a gay place our church is grown. - the young parsons bring all the young Ladies & Beaux in the neighbourhood; & there is as much difficulty in [[?]] seats as at Miss O Neil's performance - but we expect when Tillbrooke departs & Mr. J. leaves us, that we shall be left to enjoy our own pew and the old Parson in quiet. The country is very full of strangers and within the last fortnight there have been swarms of travellers, [[?]] the innkeepers have complained sadly of the hard times. Mrs Ellwood tells me that she is sure that she heard that Joe was arrived in England - [[?]], as I have heard so lately from Mary, I fear she is under some mistake - poor Fellow! I hope we shall see him & you along in the autumn - I suppose you will continue to be at Penrith of the ? &; of course at Carlisle. William says he intends going to the latter place to the boxing match I promised to accompany him - but have [[?]] since I learnt that it was to take place in the ? week, as he will not want company & I had no intention of seeing the sport, only of being his companion upon the journey. -

I guess that you have had pleasure in the Odes &c - as Mary, Tom, & all sensible people have had who know the necessary requisite, feeling, to enjoy them - but yet I dare say that few as were the copies printed they will not sell - & yet there is no doubt that William's reputation gains ground every day. I am glad that you likes Lewis & Clarke's travel's which I recommended - I do not know that Southey reviewed the book but it is most likely, as he generally does review books of the class - I think that part of the book when they first met or rather the expectation of seeking ??? Indians as affecting as almost anything I ever read - some of it gave me almost a sublime feeling - indeed the whole conduct of the party was most affecting &

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their situation interesting beyond measure. We hear nothing of Coleridge- or his Poems - or his Tragedy - that were in the press. Hartley is come from College in very bad spirits & full of constitutional sensibility which I fear will stand greatly in the way of his well-doing He is far too much like his father in many points - and consequently we are very anxious about him. George Hutchinson is come to Grasmere to be under William Jackson's care for a year - he has two other Boys from Carlisle - Geo is a nice lad but he has been a little too much of a beau, but this will wear off; he is very good-natured and affectionate, and very much pleased with his master We had two of Col Parleys [brothers] here the other day, and a brother of the Malcoms on their way to Scotland - and we expect one of the Miss Malcoms to stay with us when her brother Sir John returns, who is gone to take leave of them previous to his return to India - we also expect the Beaumonts hourly - but they will not stay with us till the end of time of residence they have taken a house at Keswick for 7 years - intending to spend four months every summer when they are not otherwise engaged - we have a sweet picture of Sir G's of the White Doe - it is the same from which the first was taken but the painting is far more beautiful. William has been so much engaged with his Exrship - his ? & visitors that he never composed a line since the Odes were written - and then - and there is little prospect of leisure for him for some time to come - for he is not like Southey But he can write whatever may be the interruptions - Poor S. looks very ill - except when he is heated by exercise or animated by conversation he is nothing like the creature he was at the commencement of the year - when sitting silent & sinking into himself he looks like the ghost of what he once was - yet his whole ? is put to the trial & if when he fails is baffled only by the weakness of him return to which we must submit. I must conclude this worthless letter - for Mary is busy with her four youngsters (Eliz Cookson, who by the bye is a sweet creature, has been ? us for a month) poor Dorothy is unwell in bed & William asleep after his dinner but tho' Mrs. E. is quite a match for amusing Mr Tillbrook, if he were not so good a character himself, yet I must join the party - and my letter must go to the post tonight - So you must take the wish for the deed - be kind in return & on some wet Sunday, when you have no better employment, & no company, write to me. God bless you, and all friends in Wales! And believe me most affectionately yours S.H.

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[SH has written out the words to Tillbrook's 'The Ivied Cot'] [SH added the following notes to the poem] x De Quincey x It was reported that she had said she would cut Mr. T.'s throat when he wanted to tempt her Husband's brother to sell the house, as they lived in it - however they are now excellent friends.

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x The Author is a B.D., Tutor, Fellow of Peter House Camb: x He was travelling with a Pupil when he met with his accident - and has not had any cause to be satisfied with the youth's subsequent conduct which evinced great want of feeling

Mr. Monkhouse

Stow

Nr. Hay

Beacon

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Object summary: WLL / Hutchinson, Sara / 1 / 27a