All Items 32

William Wordsworth, head and shoulders portrait, facing left

Hancock, Robert, 1730-1817

A print of a chalk drawing of William Wordsworth by Robert Hancock. The original drawing was done in 1798 and used black, red, and brown chalk. This reproduction is in black and white. "Wordsworth" is faintly written in the lower left corner, and something illegible is written in the lower-right corner.

William Wordsworth, head and shoulders portrait, facing left
William Wordsworth, portrait, seated

Maclise, Daniel, 1806-1870

A print of a pen-and-ink drawing of William Wordsworth by "Alfred Croquis," pseudonym of the artist Daniel Maclise. A fascimile of Wordsworth's signature is included on the portrait, and "Author of 'The Excursion'" is printed beneath the signature, followed by publication information.

William Wordsworth, portrait, seated
William Wordsworth, portrait, seated

Maclise, Daniel, 1806-1870

A mounted print of a pen-and-ink drawing of William Wordsworth by "Alfred Croquis," pseudonym of the artist Daniel Maclise. A fascimile of Wordsworth's signature is included on the portrait, and "Author of 'The Excursion'" is printed beneath the signature. Publication information is not included on this version of the portrait, though it was published by James Fraser of 215 Regent Street, London.

William Wordsworth, portrait, seated
William Wordsworth, Esqr.

Carruthers, Richard, 1792-1876

A print of a drawing of William Wordsworth by Richard Carruthers and engraved by Henry Meyer. In the image, Wordsworth sits with his left hand in his waistcoat, leaning with his right elbow upon a rock. Trees and mountains are visible in the background. The sheet upon which the portrait has been laid includes a note extracted from a text referring to Wordsworth's letter to R. P. Gillies beneath the portrait.

William Wordsworth, Esqr.
William Wordsworth letter to Robert Southey, 1815 March

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter from William Wordsworth that appears to be to Robert Southey in which Wordsworth asks Southey to send him Alexander von Humboldt's books on South America and James Montgomery's "World Before the Flood." Wordsworth also comments upon politics in Europe, apparently referring to Napoleon's march on Paris in March 1815. Wordsworth speculates that even if Napoleon gains possession of Paris again, he will not hold the imperial seat long. Also included is a fragment of paper bearing R. Southey's name.

William Wordsworth letter to Robert Southey, 1815 March
William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Powell, 1842 April 2

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Thoams Powell in which William Wordsworth comments upon Powell's recent volume of poetry, saying that he admires the feelings and thoughts in the poems but finds the workmanship less admirable. Wordsworth disagrees with Powell's treatment of Napoleon, and he disparages Napoleon as false and faithless. Wordsworth notes that he has asked his publisher, Edward Moxon, to send Powell the newest volume of Wordsworth's poetry ["Poems of Early and Late Years"], which Wordsworth says he rushed to finish, causing his health to suffer.

William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Powell, 1842 April 2
William Wordsworth letter to unidentified recipient, 1846 March 23

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter from William Wordsworth to an unidentified recipient in which Wordsworth writes about an abridgment of Izaak Walton's "The Life of Mr. George Herbert" the recipient has written. Wordsworth commends the abridgment and claims that it shows respect to Walton's original work, claiming that the original work will still be highly sought after.

William Wordsworth letter to unidentified recipient, 1846 March 23
A weight of awe, not easy to be borne

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A manuscript draft by William Wordsworth of his poem "The Monument Commonly Called Long Meg and Her Daughters." The poem differs slightly from its published version. The monument that inspired the poem is a bronze age stone circle in Cumbria, England.

A weight of awe, not easy to be borne
William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Attwood Walmisley, 1847 April 29

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Thomas Attwood Walmisley in which William Wordsworth notes that he is sending a corrected version of an ode written for the installation of Prince Albert as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Wordsworth hopes his ode will suit the music composed by Walmisley. Wordsworth mentions "distressing domestic circumstances" which made correcting the installation ode difficult, likely referring to his daughter Dora's illness.

William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Attwood Walmisley, 1847 April 29
She dwelt among the untrodden ways

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A copy of William Wordsworth's poem "She dwelt among the untrodden ways" transcribed by Wordsworth for a "Lady Bell." Wordsworth has signed his name and noted in the bottom left of the sheet that he wrote this transcription on Hanover Terrace. The poem was originally published in the 1800 edition of "Lyrical Ballads."

She dwelt among the untrodden ways
William Wordsworth excerpt of "Descriptive Sketches"

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

Lines 173 through 178 of the poem "Descriptive Sketches" by William Wordsworth. The undated excerpt of poetry has been torn from its original document, affixed to a new page, which includes annotations. One annotation indicates "Autograph of William Wordsworth," although that is doubtful.

William Wordsworth excerpt of "Descriptive Sketches"
I thought of luxury and greedy sway

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

Manuscript versions of William Wordsworth's poems "Old Abbeys" and "Cranmer," likely written in the hand of his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth. The poems differ slightly from their published versions and include crossed-out verses and insertions, suggesting they may be drafts. Both of these poems were published in Wordsworth's "Ecclesiastical Sketches."

I thought of luxury and greedy sway
William Wordsworth letter fragment to Messrs. Longman, 1826 November 22

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A fragment of a letter from William Wordsworth to his publisher [Messrs. Longmand & Co.] asking them to give a Mr. Taylor [possibly Henry Taylor, the poet] a quarto copy of his poem "The Excursion."

William Wordsworth letter fragment to Messrs. Longman, 1826 November 22
William Wordsworth and Mary Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, [1827] January 26

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Reverend William Jackson in which William Wordsworth and his wife Mary Wordsworth express their anxieties about their son John. They mention a recent letter received from Jackson and request that he offer any advice and guidance that he can to John Wordsworth while John is at Oxford. Mary also mentions Dora having a cold and promises John will give him news of the rest of the family.

William Wordsworth and Mary Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, [1827] January 26
Lament! for Dioclesian's fiery sword

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

Manuscript drafts by William Wordsworth of his poems "Persecution" and "The Fall of Aar." The drafts include many crossed-out verses and insertions. The first page contains some lines from his poem "King's College Chapel." "Persecution" was published in his "Ecclesiastical Sketches" and "The Fall of Aar" in his "Memorials of a Tour on the Continent, 1820."

Lament! for Dioclesian's fiery sword
Where holy ground begins, unhallowed end

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

Manuscript drafts by William Wordsworth of his poems "A Parsonage in Oxfordshire" and "New Church-Yard." The poems differ slightly from their published versions and include some insertions. "New Church-yard" is one of Wordsworth's "Ecclesiastical Sketches." These poems may be in Dorothy Wordsworth's hand. The object includes annotations not in Wordsworth's hand.

Where holy ground begins, unhallowed end
William Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, 1829 March 10

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Reverend William Jackson dictated and signed by William Wordsworth and written by his daughter Dora Wordsworth in which Wordsworth congratulates Jackson on his recent engagement. Wordsworth also describes everyday matters in the Wordsworth family and in the surrounding neighborhood, including Dora's recent sickness, his own poor eyesight, his sister's improving condition, and his sons' education and work. He thanks Jackson for helping John in his efforts to find a position. Additionally, Wordsworth discusses the state of the Church and mentions that he will save some of his thoughts on the topic until he sees Jackson and his bride in person. Although the letter is dated March 10, the postmark appears to be May 11, 1829.

William Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, 1829 March 10
William Wordsworth letter to unidentified recipient, 1841 February 16

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to an unidentified recipient in which William Wordsworth primarily discusses the failure of the Copyright Bill to pass due to a lack of attendance at the House of Commons by its supporters. Wordsworth complains that the supporters were drawn away by dinner while the opponents remained to vote against it. The recipient appears to be an editor of a newspaper, and Wordsworth thanks him for newspapers he has occasionally sent and gives him permission to use his poems in his paper. Additionally, Wordsworth briefly mentions a work of epitaphs of authors "not long since dead" which mistakenly included himself, the difficulty of replying to all the communications he receives, and working in his garden.

William Wordsworth letter to unidentified recipient, 1841 February 16
William Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, [1846] April 28

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Reverend William Jackson in which William Wordsworth congratulates Jackson on his recent appointment to Chancellor of the Diocese of Carlisle. He mentions possibly visiting Carlisle in the summer, and also notes that he'd like to pass the following winter near Nice, France. In a postscript, Wordsworth briefly mentions the family situation of his son John, explaining where John's children are currently settled since John brought them back from Italy [John's wife Isabella had been sent to Rome for medical reasons in the hopes that the climate would do her good].

William Wordsworth letter to William Jackson, [1846] April 28
William Wordsworth letter to Messrs. Longman, May 10

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter from William Wordsworth to his publisher [Messrs. Longmand & Co.] asking them to prepare a parcel for him containing copies of his "Excursion," a copy of volume three of Kirby and Spence's "Introduction to Entomology," [in which one of Wordsworth's poems appears] and some additional sheets.

William Wordsworth letter to Messrs. Longman, May 10