Many thanks for your interesting account of Mr. Edgeworth.  I heartily concur with you in the wish that neither Plato nor any other profane author may lead him from the truths of the Gospel, without which our existence is an insupportable mystery to the thinking mind.

Looking for a reply at your early convenience,

    I remain, my dear Sir, faithfully, your obliged
    WM. WORDSWORTH.[100]

[100] Memoirs, ii. 216-17.

63. ’Annuals’ and publishing Roguery.

LETTER TO C. HUNTLY GORDON, ESQ.  Rydal Mount, July 29. 1829.

MY DEAR SIR,

I hope you have enjoyed yourself in the country, as we have been doing among our shady woods, and green hills, and invigorated streams.  The summer is passing on, and I have not left home, and perhaps shall not; for it is far more from duty than inclination that I quit my dear and beautiful home; and duty pulls two ways.  On the one side my mind stands in need of being fed by new objects for meditation and reflection, the more so because diseased eyes have cut me off so much from reading; and, on the other hand, I am obliged to look at the expense of distant travelling, as I am not able to take so much out of my body by walking as heretofore.

I have not got my MS. back from the ——­,[101] whose managers have, between them, used me shamefully; but my complaint is principally of the editor, for with the proprietor I have had little direct connection.  If you think it worth while, you shall, at some future day, see such parts of the correspondence as I have preserved.  Mr. Southey is pretty much in the same predicament with them, though he has kept silence for the present....  I am properly served for having had any connection with such things.  My only excuse is, that they offered me a very liberal sum, and that I have laboured hard through a long life, without more pecuniary emolument than a lawyer gets for two special retainers, or a public performer sometimes for two or three songs.  Farewell; pray let me hear from 3-011 at your early convenience,

And believe me faithfully your
Much obliged
WM. WORDSWORTH.[102]

[101] An Annual, to which Wordsworth had been induced to become a contributor.

[102] Memoirs, ii. 217-18.

64. Works of George Peele.

LETTER TO REV.  ALEXANDER DYCE.

Rydal Mount, Kendal, Oct. 16. 1829.

MY DEAR SIR,

On my return from Ireland, where I have been travelling a few weeks, I found your present of George Peele’s works, and the obliging letter accompanying it; for both of which I offer my cordial thanks.

English literature is greatly indebted to your labours; and I have much pleasure in this occasion of testifying my respect for the sound judgment and conscientious diligence with which you discharge your duty as an editor.  Peele’s works were well deserving of the care you have bestowed upon them; and, as I did not previously possess a copy of any part of them, the beautiful book which you have sent me was very acceptable.