C. LAMB.

Mary’s love included.

[Charles Cowden Clarke (1787-1877) was the son of a schoolmaster who had served as usher with George Dyer at Northampton.  Afterwards he established a school at Enfield, where Keats was one of the scholars.  Charles Cowden Clarke, at this time a bookseller, remained one of Keats’ friends and was a friend also of Leigh Hunt’s, on whose behalf he seems to have written to Lamb.  Later he became a partner of Alfred Novello, the musical publisher, son of Vincent Novello.  In 1828 he married Mary Victoria Novello.

“Friendly Henshaw face.”  I cannot explain this.

Leigh Hunt left England for Italy in November, 1821, to join Shelley and Byron.

Here should come a brief note to Allan Cunningham asking him to an evening party of London Magazine contributors at 20 Russell St., given in the Boston Bibliophile edition.]

LETTER 280

MARY LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAM AYRTON

[No date. ?1821.]

Thursday Morning.

MY dear friend,

The kind interest you took in my perplexities of yesterday makes me feel that you will be well pleased to hear I got through my complicated business far better than I had ventured to hope I should do.  In the first place let me thank you, my good friend, for your good advice; for, had I not gone to Martin first he would have sent a senseless letter to Mr. Rickman, and now he is coming here to-day in order to frame one in conjunction with my brother.

What will be Mr. Rickman’s final determination I know not, but he and Mrs. Rickman both gave me a most kind reception, and a most patient hearing, and then Mr. R. walked with me as far as Bishopsgate Street, conversing the whole way on the same unhappy subject.  I will see you again the very first opportunity till when farewel with grateful thanks.

How senseless I was not to make you go back in that empty coach.  I never have but one idea in my poor head at a time.

Yours affectionately

M. LAMB.

at Mr. Coston’s

No. 14 Kingsland Row Dalston.

[The explanation of this letter is found in an entry in Crabb Robinson’s Diary, the unpublished portion, which tells us that owing to certain irregularities Rickman, who was Clerk Assistant at the table of the House of Commons, had been obliged to discharge Martin Burney, who was one of his clerks.

Here should come another scrap from Lamb to Ayrton, dated August 14, stating that at to-morrow’s rubber the windows will be closed on account of Her Majesty’s death.  Her Majesty was Queen Caroline, whom Lamb had championed.  She died on August 7.]

LETTER 281

CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP

Oct. 21, 1819.

My dear Sir, I have to thank you for a fine hare, and unless I am mistaken for two, the first I received a week since, the account given with it was that it came from Mr. Alfourd—­I have no friend of that name, but two who come near it