[Moxon had just acquired The Englishman’s Magazine and Lamb contributed to the September number his “Recollections of a Late Royal Academician,” George Dawe (see Vol.  I. of this edition), under the general title “Peter’s Net.”  Daniels may have been Thomas or William Daniell, both landscape painters.  Westall may have been Richard Westall, the historical painter, or William Westall, the topographical painter.  H. Rogers was Henry Rogers, brother of the poet.

“The Athenaeum has been hoaxed.”  The exquisite poetry was FitzGerald’s “Meadows in Spring” (see next letter).]

LETTER 535

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[P.M.  Aug. 5, 1831.]

Send, or bring me, Hone’s No. for August.

Hunt is a fool, and his critics——­The anecdotes of E. and of G.D. are substantially true.  What does Elia (or Peter) care for dates?

That is the poem I mean.  I do not know who wrote it, but is in Hone’s book as far back as April.

Tis a poem I envy—­that & Montgomery’s Last Man (nothing else of his).  I envy the writers, because I feel I could have done something like it.  S——­ is a coxcomb.  W——­ is a ——­ & a great Poet.  L.

[Hone was now editing his Year Book.  Under the date April 30 had appeared Edward FitzGerald’s poem, “The Meadows in Spring,” with the following introduction:—­

These verses are in the old style; rather homely in expression; but I honestly profess to stick more to the simplicity of the old poets than the moderns, and to love the philosophical good humor of our old writers more than the sickly melancholy of the Byronian wits.  If my verses be not good, they are good humored, and that is something.

The editor of The Athenaeum, in reprinting the poem, suggested delicately that it was by Lamb.  There is no such poem by James Montgomery as “The Last Man.”  Campbell wrote a “Last Man,” and so did Hood, but I agree with Canon Ainger that what Lamb meant was Montgomery’s “Common Lot.”  I give the two poems in the Appendix as illustrations of what Lamb envied.

“Hunt is a fool.”  In The Tatler for August 1 Leigh Hunt had quoted much of Lamb’s essay on Elliston.  I do not, however, find any adverse criticism.

“E. and G.D.”  Lamb had written in the August number of The Englishman’s Magazine his “Reminiscences of Elliston.”  Lamb’s article on George Dawe did not appear till the September number, but perhaps Moxon already had the copy.]

LETTER 536

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[P.M.  Sept. 5, 1831.]

Dear M., Your Letter’s contents pleased me.  I am only afraid of taxing you, yet I want a stimulus, or I think I should drag sadly.  I shall keep the monies in trust till I see you fairly over the next 1 January.  Then I shall look upon ’em as earned.  Colburn shall be written to.  No part of yours gave me more pleasure (no, not the L,10, tho’ you may grin) than that you will revisit old Enfield, which I hope will be always a pleasant idea to you.