WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

1770-1850

TO SIR GEORGE BEAUMONT

A brother’s character

Grasmere, 20 Feb. 1805.

Having spoken of worldly affairs, let me again mention my beloved brother.  It is now just five years since, after a separation of fourteen years (I may call it a separation, for we only saw him four or five times, and by glimpses), he came to visit his sister and me in this cottage, and passed eight blessed months with us.  He was then waiting for the command of the ship to which he was appointed when he quitted us.  As you will have seen, we had little to live upon, and he as little (Lord Lonsdale being then alive).  But he encouraged me to persist, and to keep my eye steady on its object.  He would work for me (that was his language), for me and his sister; and I was to endeavour to do something for the world.  He went to sea, as commander, with this hope; his voyage was very unsuccessful, he having lost by it considerably.  When he came home, we chanced to be in London, and saw him.  ‘Oh!’ said he, ’I have thought of you, and nothing but you; if ever of myself, and my bad success, it was only on your account.’  He went again to sea a second time, and also was unsuccessful; still with the same hopes on our account, though then not so necessary, Lord Lowther having paid the money.  Lastly came the lamentable voyage, which he entered upon, full of expectation, and love to his sister and myself, and my wife, whom, indeed, he loved with all a brother’s tenderness.  This is the end of his part of the agreement—­of his efforts for my welfare!  God grant me life and strength to fulfil mine!  I shall never forget him—­never lose sight of him:  there is a bond between us yet, the same as if he were living, nay, far more sacred, calling upon me to do my utmost, as he to the last did his utmost to live in honour and worthiness.  Some of the newspapers carelessly asserted that he did not wish to survive his ship.  This is false.  He was heard by one of the surviving officers giving orders, with all possible calmness, a very little before the ship went down; and when he could remain at his post no longer, then, and not till then, he attempted to save himself.  I knew this would be so, but it was satisfactory for me to have it confirmed by external evidence.  Do not think our grief unreasonable.  Of all human beings whom I ever knew, he was the man of the most rational desires, the most sedate habits, and the most perfect self-command.  He was modest and gentle, and shy even to disease; but this was wearing off.  In everything his judgements were sound and original; his taste in all the arts, music and poetry in particular (for these he, of course, had had the best opportunities of being familiar with), was exquisite; and his eye for the beauties of nature was as fine and delicate as ever poet or painter was gifted with, in some discriminations, owing to his education and way of life, far superior to any person’s I ever knew.  But, alas! what avails it?  It was the will of God that he should be taken away....