This poem was known in the Wordsworth household as “The Leech-Gatherer,” although it never received that name in print.  An entry in Dorothy Wordsworth’s Journal of Friday, 3rd October 1800, may preface what she wrote in 1802 about the composition of the poem.

“When William and I returned from accompanying Jones, we met an old man almost double.  He had on a coat thrown over his shoulders above his waistcoat and coat.  Under this he carried a bundle, and had an apron on, and a night-cap.  His face was interesting.  He had dark eyes, and a long nose.  John, who afterwards met him at Wytheburn, took him for a Jew.  He was of Scotch parents, but had been born in the army.  He had had a wife, ’and a good woman, and it pleased God to bless him with ten children.’  All these were dead but one, of whom he had not heard for many years, a sailor.  His trade was to gather leeches; but now leeches were scarce, and he had not strength for it.  He lived by begging, and was making his way to Carlisle where he would buy a few books to sell.  He said leeches were very scarce, partly owing to this dry season; but many years they had been scarce.  He supposed it was owing to their being much sought after; that they did not breed fast; and were of slow growth.  Leeches were formerly 2s. 6d. the 100; now they were 30s.  He had been hurt in driving a cart, his leg broken, his body driven over, his skull fractured.  He felt no pain till he recovered from his first insensibility.  It was late in the evening, when the light was just going away.”

It is most likely that this walk of William and Dorothy Wordsworth “accompanying Jones,” was on the day of Jones’s departure from Dove Cottage, viz. 26th September.

The Journal continues: 

“Tuesday, 4th May, 1802.—­Though William went to bed nervous and jaded in the extreme, he rose refreshed.  I wrote out ‘The Leech-Gatherer’ for him, which he had begun the night before, and of which he wrote several stanzas in bed this morning....”

  (They started to walk up the Raise to Wytheburn.)

  “It was very hot; we rested several times by the way, read, and
  repeated ‘The Leech-Gatherer.’”

“Friday, 7th May.—­William had slept uncommonly well, so, feeling himself strong, he fell to work at ‘The Leech-Gatherer’; he wrote hard at it till dinner time, then he gave over, tired to death—­he had finished the poem.”

“Sunday morning, 9th May.—­William worked at ‘The Leech-Gatherer’ almost incessantly from morning till tea-time.  I copied ’The Leech-Gatherer’ and other poems for Coleridge.  I was oppressed and sick at heart, for he wearied himself to death.”

  “Sunday, 4th July.—...  William finished ‘The Leech-Gatherer’ to-day.”

  “Monday, 5th July.—­I copied out ‘The Leech-Gatherer’ for Coleridge,
  and for us.”