Jewsbury, Maria Jane (1800-1833). - Letter, from Grosvenor St., to Dora Wordsworth (1804-1847), at Brinsop Court, near Hereford, dated 4 March 1828. WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 12.

Grosvenor St.

March 4 - 1828.

My dear dear Dora,

For the comfort of my conscience I am glad your last letter is out of sight - that I am sorry to say however, that I have a disturbing remembrance of its date - but indeed my dear friend - if you did but know the delinquencies I have to answer for on the score of unanswered letters - you would - I don't know what you would do at me - that is, on the supposition you could get at me. Latterly I have been more busier, & more indisposed than usual - then notwithstanding an understanding, that I receive no callers till afternoon - I am killed with kindness in the shape, the most delightful shape of agreeable visitors - nevertheless killing is killing - & poor Clarence was as effectually drowned in his butt of Malmsey, as he would have been in a duck pond. My jesting is effectually stopped - by that word drowned - have you yet heard of the calamity which has occurred here - & thrown forty if not more families into the deepest affliction? - A trumpery barge was launched with a trumpery display of folly & finery - full sailed - &c&c in our ditch of a river - 300 were on board - it struck against the opposite bank - went on one side - & all on board were precipitated into the water! - Forty at

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at least perished! You may imagine the scene. But awful as the catastrophe was, considering what it might have been - how truly may [we][may][ say] that mercy was conspicuous - & one may hope, that among the many thus snatched from the very jaws of Death - "Some will be found to whom it will be the beginning of a new life - some who will adopt the language, & with that the spirit of the restored King who said - "The grave cannot praise thee - death cannot celebrate thee - they that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee as I do this day! The father to the children shall make known thy truth!” – Your last was a very interesting letter – don’t punish me by making me wait a long time for another – tell me plenty of petty details about yourself – that interests me most - & nothing where the heart is as deeply interested as mine is for you, is too petty – too slight – too unimportant – And oh tell me, is there not a hope of your journeying homeward through Manchester? – am I never to see you – (for I shall never see Rydal) & must the idea of your visit be like your father’s Cuckoo – a hope – a love – still longed for, never seen? – Don’t tell me so –

Dear Miss Bayley left me this morning – left Manchester for good & all – ! I know not why Juliet calls parting “sweet sorrow” – I am sure it is very real & bitter sorrow – it is an emblem of Death - & anticipates the time when we must leave every thing,

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& take no one, & nothing with us. The parting of St. Paul & his Epheseans[Caesareans] is a most affecting proof - that religion does not deaden sensibility, only new directs it - "What mean ye to weep, & to break my heart? - for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus" - The martyr perseveres in his onward path - the man - yearns over all that he leaves behind. By the way the scene described in this chapter is one for a painter - the few of that sect "every where spoken against" - kneeling on the sea shore, their wives & their little ones too - Paul in the midst - the despised possessors of a treasures, & the destined inheritors of a fame, which Rome in[at] her best estate possessed not! - I have lately been applied to, to contribute to a Juvenile Annual - Editress Mrs: Watts - it is to contain no giants - no ghosts, & only very well behaved fairies - I

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annex a [[?]] I have just written - it may amuse your Cousins. Will you give my love to Mrs: W. & thank her for her note to Geraldine - who never got it till the day after. She is again at school - quite well, & very well off - Will you when you next write to your Aunt give my love to her - & will you remember to say also, that Mr. Burra begs to remind her of her promise to write to Chantry for to order one of your father's busts for him - which he is desirous of possessing His address is No 3. King St. Cheapside. I heard with real pleasure through the Barlows that you were very tolerable - Pray let me hear from you soon. I have had a wonderful winter for me - Believe me now dearest Dora - with unchanged regard - Most affectionately yours M.J.J.

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The Song of The Rocking-Horse. Not of the wondrous horse of brass On which the Tartar King did ride. - Milton.

I There was Pegasus famed in old story, A Dragon too turned by a screw, What were they & their wonderful glory, Compared wooden Dobbin with you? You need neither manger nor [brin], You are shod without shoes to your feet, You starve & yet never grow thin, You work, & want nothing to eat. II My father has steeds in his stable, Worth hundreds & hundreds of pounds, And oh very often at table, Their worth & their praises he sounds; There is Wildfire, & Wagtail, & Wager, And many another beside, But racer & hunter & stager, Are nought to the one that I ride. III But if I should wish for a buyer, I fear a long while I might stop, For I can’t trace your pedigree higher, Than up to the carpenter’s shop; Never mind – for if asked for your points.

Ev’n a jockey of honour might say, That if you are stiff in your joints, It keeps you from running away. IV You are saddled & bridled & ready, Alike through the day & the night, And well may I call you him Old Steady, That never was known to take fright – If I happen to fall from your back, No fear of a kick on the floor, If I give you a cruel hard smack, No dread of your rearing before. V The Greeks gave the Trojans a shock, With a horse, that like mine was of wood, But being unable to rock, Though larger, it was not so good, To be horsed as I am is a pleasure, At school to be horsed is no joke, So I’ll een make the most of my le isure And wish you good morrow good folk M. J.J.

Miss Wordsworth

Brinsop Court

Near Hereford

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Object summary: WLMS A / Jewsbury, Maria Jane / 12