Jewsbury, Maria Jane (1800-1833). - Letter, from Tamworth, to Dora Wordsworth (1804-1847), at Rydal Mount, near Ambleside, dated 21 August 1830. WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 30.

Tamworth

August 21 <1830>

Annette Mortimer - "For you are she, my dearest dear." John Gilpin

I was relieved from considerable anxiety, & a [[?]] displeasure, by the arrival of your long, & to quote your own phrase "satisfactory" letter. I thank you for it very affectionately - & even its impertinencies I pardon on the ground that I verily believe you cannot help them. They are native to your mind my mind, dear, as rushes are to damp soil, & nettles to ditches. But thank you kindly again for thinking of me - surely you had letters twice from me dated London - & that particular one which I wrote when I could ill spare time to find [[?]] - well, I will never doggerel it any

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more, but will be respectable & prosy. Mr Quillinan was very attentive & I liked him much, but he is not really one of my Town lovers - not one of those, whom a gentleman elegantly said, skips "on the dog trot." - so set your heart at rest. Mr Gordon would be very agreeable - but that horn - and now it is a long elastic tube as long as an Epic poem, & you have to speak down it - it his infirmity is a sad drawback. Mr Q. talked of visiting Westmoreland - & I think a letter of invite would make him decide to cut his club house, & run to your Mount. I liked him because though quite a Town liver, he has a tarn of nature somewhere in his heart & imagination.

Yes, I heard often of your brother's approaching marriage, & always heard the lady highly spoken of. Believe me

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I wish you all, all the happiness you expect, & apparently on good grounds. I always admired your brothers I am glad he has found a lady worthy his regard & reverence. - Aunt's letter - ah where is it! I am so very vexed - My love & thanks nevertheless. - My dear friend Mrs Hemans, has written so many fine & true things about the "Shepherd King," your father, that I cannot possibly find room for them - she speaks gratefully & affectionately of your house & all its belongings. As to your Fish, my dear I have consulted various persons, & can get no opinion - it seems a habit of gold fish to grow out of condition & die - one lady recommends turning them for awhile into a large tub of water with a little earth mixed with it - to see if more of space & the pure element, would benefit their gold & silver stomachs - But it is better they came to an end than their Globe - you can have more from Preston you know- & as to "a bright particular fish" - I think all are alike - I have no room to send you "a satisfactory letter" - I am in admirable health - staying a few days here among the friends of my

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childhood - shall reach Manchester next week. I am glad you liked your chain - it cost the sublime sum of fourteen shillings.

I spent a week at Hampstead - Sara is very sweet, & gentle, & happy, & cheerful - & Henry C - I like much, & respect Marriage & intercourse with his father in law have mellowed him, & if you read his last book I think you will feel that this has been the case. You are severe on London, but I shall certainly (if all be well) settle there for some months next year - I can make more money with less labour - & I like London - & when tired of it, I can go to the country, which is a kind of feather bed for body & mind!!!!!!! The Douglass descended

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upon me"forty thousand strong" - Mr Q took me in accordance with her invitation - & she convinced me that she is one of the people whose who would be worthy & agreeable, would they let themselves alone. Mrs J. Baillie called on me at Hampstead & I liked her very much as a fine specimen of the Grandisonian gentlewoman - but no one shall make me call her books, or herself poetical. God bless you dearest Dora - Write to me again soon - & believe me that no place is after all so shrined in my heart as your country - & that no one will, can,

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shall tempt me to forget you. I know in your heart, you think my moral character done for - but frankly, I really feel much improved by my Town life - I estimate wit & fancy at a lower rate, & Good nature & simplicity at a higher - I am afraid I make more bon mots (did I not win [[?]] heart by puns) - but there is in me such an essential spirit of melancholy that all excitements are sombred, if not wholly overcast. Miss Landon called me

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A Temp "An illuminated Temple with all the lamps hung outside." You will be glad I know to hear that I have had more literary offers made me than I well know what to do with. Pray did a certain Mr Johnston (Lord Lowther's Sec) fall in your way - I like him much - but now farewell - write me again soon - or I will be jealous to the knife of Miss Curwen - Affectionate respects to your circle - & believe me Ever Your's M.J. Jewsbury. Love to E. Cookson. Tell Mrs: Hemans (if not gone) that if she returns from Scotland by land, I hope she will remember Manchester & me

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I shall quite expect you & Mr W - or any other W, when on your way to Cambridge. Mark that! - & let me know in time.

Miss D. Wordsworth

Rydal Mount

nr Ambleside

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Object summary: WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 30