All Items 16

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
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
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
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
William Wordsworth letter to Edward Moxon, 1836 May 26

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter from William Wordsworth to his publisher, Edward Moxon in which Wordsworth requests Moxon give two copies of his verses on Lamb ["Ode to the Memory of Charles Lamb"] to the bearer of the letter, Mr. [James] Spedding: one for Spedding and one for Mr. [Henry] Taylor. Wordsworth also mentions coming to London soon, and wishing to speak to Moxon about stereotyping his poems.

William Wordsworth letter to Edward Moxon, 1836 May 26
William Wordsworth letter to Robert Pearse Gillies, 1817 September 19

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Robert Pearse Gillies, Scottish editor and author, in which William Wordsworth discusses some upcoming travel he must undertake, noting that he will be away from home for a fortnight beginning September 22 or 23, 1817. Gillies had sent Wordsworth a letter letting him know that he would be in England soon, and Wordsworth is hopeful that his travel won't cause him to miss Gillies' visit. Wordsworth also discusses skimming but not reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Biographia Literaria," his disdain for criticism, and his dislike of publishing poems in periodicals.

William Wordsworth letter to Robert Pearse Gillies, 1817 September 19
William Wordsworth letter to Joshua Watson, 1840 February 11

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Joshua Watson from William Wordsworth. Wordsworth refers to a bill he is listed as owing in a Mr. Harrison's book, but he notes that his daughter left the amount with Watson's housekeeper the previous February 26. He goes on to offer his deep sympathy for Watson's loss, most likely referring to the death of Watson's daughter, Mary Sikes Watson, which occurred in 1840. Wordsworth also extends his sympathy to Mr. Henry Mitchell Wager, the husband of Watson's daughter. The letter includes annotations not in Wordsworth's hand.

William Wordsworth letter to Joshua Watson, 1840 February 11
William Wordsworth letter to Helen Maria Williams, [1820 October]

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter to Helen Maria Williams in which William Wordsworth accepts an invitation to visit Williams and notes that he will bring his wife and sister as well.

William Wordsworth letter to Helen Maria Williams, [1820 October]
William Wordsworth letter fragment to one of his sons, [1829]

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A fragment of a letter from William Wordsworth to one of his sons, probably John Wordsworth, discussing politics. In the letter, Wordsworth refers to the "Powers of Europe" allowing Russia to advance on Constantinople, and discusses how nothing got done at the last session of British parliament once a Relief Bill was passed [likely referring to the Roman Caholic Relief Act 1829]. Much of the text on the reverse has been blotted out.

William Wordsworth letter fragment to one of his sons, [1829]
William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Noon Talfourd, 1838 May 3

Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850

A letter from William Wordsworth to Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd, a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, discussing a copyright Bill that Talfourd had introduced. In the letter, Wordsworth discusses two other politicians' thoughts on the Bill: Sir Robert Peel, who was then Leader of the Opposition, and Edward Horsman, Member of Parliament for Cockermouth. Wordsworth quotes an excerpt of a letter in which Peel expresses concerns about the Bill, but Wordsworth notes that Horsman is in favor of the Bill and will cooperate with Talfourd. In the postscript, he mentions Sir Walter Scott and Mr. John Gibson Lockhart [Scott's biographer and son-in-law] and the effect the measure would have upon them.

William Wordsworth letter to Thomas Noon Talfourd, 1838 May 3