I have to thank you and Moxon for a delightful volume, your last (I hope not) of ‘Elia.’  I have read it all except some of the ’Popular Fallacies,’ which I reserve....  The book has much pleased the whole of my family, viz. my wife, daughter, Miss Hutchinson, and my poor dear sister, on her sick bed; they all return their best thanks.  I am not sure but I like the ‘Old China,’ and the ‘Wedding,’ as well as any of the Essays.  I read ‘Love me and my Dog’ to my poor sister this morning.

* * * * *

I have been thus particular, knowing how much you and your dear sister value this excellent person, whose tenderness of heart I do not honestly believe was ever exceeded by any of God’s creatures.  Her loving-kindness has no bounds.  God bless her for ever and ever!  Again thanking you for your excellent book, and wishing to know how you and your dear sister are, with best love to you both from us all,

I remain, my dear Lamb,
Your faithful friend,
W. WORDSWORTH.[135]

88. ’Specimens of English Sonnets:’  Criticisms, &c.

LETTER TO THE REV.  ALEXANDER DYCE.

[No date to this Letter, but written in 1833.]

MY DEAR SIR,

The dedication[136] which you propose I shall esteem as an honour; nor do I conceive upon what ground, but an over-scrupulous modesty, I could object to it.

[135] Memoirs, ii. 277-8.

[136] I had requested permission to dedicate a little book, Specimens of English Sonnets, to Mr. W. A.D.

Be assured that Mr. Southey will not have the slightest unwillingness to your making any use you think proper of his ‘Memoir of Bampfylde:’  I shall not fail to mention the subject to him upon the first opportunity.

You propose to give specimens of the best sonnet-writers in our language.  May I ask if by this be meant a selection of the best sonnets, best both as to kind and degree?  A sonnet may be excellent in its kind, but that kind of very inferior interest to one of a higher order, though not perhaps in every minute particular quite so well executed, and from the pen of a writer of inferior genius.  It should seem that the best rule to follow would be, first, to pitch upon the sonnets which are best both in kind and perfectness of execution, and, next, those which, although of a humbler quality, are admirable for the finish and happiness of the execution, taking care to exclude all those which have not one or other of these recommendations, however striking they might be, as characteristic of the age in which the author lived, or some peculiarity of his manner.  The 10th sonnet of Donne, beginning ‘Death, be not proud,’ is so eminently characteristic of his manner, and at the same time so weighty in the thought, and vigorous in the expression, that I would entreat you to insert it, though to modern