I have a kind letter from the Words’wths congratulatory not a little.

It is a damp, I do assure you, amid all my prospects that I can receive none from a quarter upon which I had calculated, almost more than from any, upon receiving congratulations.  I had grown to like poor M. more and more.  I do not esteem a soul living or not living more warmly than I had grown to esteem and value him.  But words are vain.  We have none of us to count upon many years.  That is the only cure for sad thoughts.  If only some died, and the rest were permanent on earth, what a thing a friend’s death would be then!

I must take leave, having put off answering [a load] of letters to this morning, and this, alas! is the 1st.  Our kindest remembrances to Mrs. Monkhouse and believe us

Yours most Truly, C. LAMB.

LETTER 371

CHARLES LAMB TO WILLIAM HORNE

[P.M.  May 2, 1825.]

Dear Hone,—­I send you a trifle; you have seen my lines, I suppose, in the “London.”  I cannot tell you how much I like the “St. Chad Wells.”

Yours truly

C. LAMB.

P.S.  Why did you not stay, or come again, yesterday?

[These words accompany Lamb’s contribution, “Remarkable Correspondent,” to Hone’s Every-Day Book (see Vol.  I. of this edition).  Lamb was helping Hone in his new venture as much as he was able; and Hone in return dedicated the first volume to him.  “St. Chad’s Wells” was an article by Hone in the number for March 2.]

LETTER 372

CHARLES LAMB TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

[No date.  May, 1825.]

Dear W. I write post-hoste to ensure a frank.  Thanks for your hearty congratulations.  I may now date from the 6th week of my Hegira or Flight from Leadenhall.  I have lived so much in it, that a Summer seems already past, and ’tis but early May yet with you and other people.  How I look down on the Slaves and drudges of the world! its inhabitants are a vast cotton-web of spin spin spinners.  O the carking cares!  O the money-grubbers-sempiternal muckworms!

Your Virgil I have lost sight of, but suspect it is in the hands of Sir G. Beaumont.  I think that circumstances made me shy of procuring it before.  Will you write to him about it? and your commands shall be obeyed to a tittle.

Coleridge has just finishd his prize Essay, which if it get the Prize he’ll touch an additional L100 I fancy.  His Book too (commentary on Bishop Leighton) is quite finished and penes Taylor and Hessey.

In the London which is just out (1st May) are 2 papers entitled the Superannuated Man, which I wish you to see, and also 1st Apr. a little thing called Barbara S------ a story gleaned from Miss Kelly.  The L.M. if you can get it will save my enlargement upon the topic of my manumission.