I wish much to hear from you, if you have leisure; but as you are so indulgent to me, it would be the highest injustice were I otherwise to you.

We have read ‘Madoc,’ and been highly pleased with it.  It abounds in beautiful pictures and descriptions, happily introduced, and there is an animation diffused through the whole story, though it cannot, perhaps, be said that any of the characters interest you much, except, perhaps, young Llewellyn, whose situation is highly interesting, and he appears to me the best conceived and sustained character in the piece.  His speech to his uncle at their meeting in the island is particularly interesting.  The poem fails in the highest gifts of the poet’s mind, imagination in the true sense of the word, and knowledge of human nature and the human heart.  There is nothing that shows the hand of the great master; but the beauties in description are innumerable; for instance, that of the figure of the bard, towards the beginning of the convention of the bards, receiving the poetic inspiration; that of the wife of Tlalala, the savage, going out to meet her husband; that of Madoc, and the Atzecan king with a long name, preparing for battle; everywhere, indeed, you have beautiful descriptions, and it is a work which does the author high credit, I think.  I should like to know your opinion of it.  Farewell!  Best remembrances and love to Lady Beaumont.  Believe me,

My dear Sir George,
Your most sincere friend,
W. WORDSWORTH.

My sister thanks Lady Beaumont for her letter, and will write in a few days.  I find that Lady B. has been pleased much by ’Madoc.’[28]

[28] Memoirs, vol. i. pp. 309—­12.  G.

COLERIDGE:  VISIT TO COLEORTON:  HOUBRAKEN:  ‘MADOC,’ &c.

To Sir George H. Beaumont, Bart.

Grasmere, July 29th. [1805.]

MY DEAR SIR GEORGE,

We have all here been made happy in hearing that you are so much better.  I write now chiefly on account of a mistake which you seem to be under concerning Coleridge.  I guess from your letter that you suppose him to be appointed to the place of Secretary to Sir A. Ball.  This is by no means the case.  He is an occasional substitute for Mr. Chapman, who is secretary, and no doubt must have resumed his office long before this; as he had been expected every day some time before the date of C.’s last letter.  The paragraph in the Paper (which we also saw) positively states that C. is appointed Secretary.  This is an error, and has been merely put in upon common rumour.

When you were ill I had a thought which I will mention to you.  It was this:  I wished to know how you were at present situated as to house-room at Coleorton, that is, whether you could have found a corner for me to put my head in, in case I could have contrived to have commanded three weeks’ time, or so.  I am at present, and shall be for some time, engaged with a sick friend, who has come all the way from Bristol on purpose to see us, and has taken lodgings in the Village; but should you be unwell again, and my company be like to tend in the least to exhilarate you, I should like to know, that were it in my power to go and see you, I might have the liberty to do so.