[132] Memoirs, ii. 274-5.

Shirley’s death reminded me of a sad close of the life of a literary person, Sanderson by name, in the neighbouring county of Cumberland.  He lived in a cottage by himself, though a man of some landed estate.  His cottage, from want of care on his part, took fire in the night.  The neighbours were alarmed; they ran to his rescue; he escaped, dreadfully burned, from the flames, and lay down (he was in his seventieth year) much exhausted under a tree, a few yards from the door.  His friends, in the meanwhile, endeavoured to save what they could of his property from the flames.  He inquired most anxiously after a box in which his manuscripts and published pieces had been deposited with a view to a publication of a laboriously-corrected edition; and, upon being told that the box was consumed, he expired in a few minutes, saying, or rather sighing out the words, ‘Then I do not wish to live.’  Poor man! though the circulation of his works had not extended beyond a circle of fifty miles’ diameter, perhaps, at furthest, he was most anxious to survive in the memory of the few who were likely to hear of him.

The publishing trade, I understand, continues to be much depressed, and authors are driven to solicit or invite subscriptions, as being in many cases the only means for giving their works to the world.

I am always pleased to hear from you; and believe me,

My dear Sir,

Faithfully your obliged friend,
WM. WORDSWORTH.[133]

86. Literary Criticism and News:  Men of Science, &c.

LETTER TO PROFESSOR HAMILTON, OF DUBLIN.

Rydal Mount, May 8. 1833.

MY DEAR SIR,

My letters being of no value but as tokens of friendship, I waited for the opportunity of a frank, which I had reason to expect earlier.  Sincerely do we all congratulate you upon your marriage.  Accept our best wishes upon the event, and believe that we shall always be deeply interested in your welfare.  Make our kind regards also to Mrs. Hamilton, who of course will be included in every friendly hope and expectation formed for yourself.

[133] Memoirs, ii. 275-6.

We look with anxiety to your sister Eliza’s success in her schemes,—­but for pecuniary recompense in literature, especially poetical, nothing can be more unpromising than the present state of affairs, except what we have to fear for the future.  Mrs. Godwyn, who sends verses to Blackwood, is our neighbour.  I have had no conversation with her myself upon the subject, but a friend of hers says she has reason to believe that she has got nothing but a present of books.  This however is of no moment, as Mrs. G. being a person of easy fortune she has not probably bargained for a return in money.  Mrs. Hemans I see continues to publish in the periodicals.  If you ever see her, pray remember me affectionately to her, and tell her that I have often been, and still