Whoever enter’st here, no more presume
        To name a Parlour, or a Drawing Room;
        But, bending lowly to each, holy Story,
        Make this thy Chapel, and thine Oratory.]

LETTER 542

CHARLES LAMB TO S.T.  COLERIDGE

April 14th, 1832.

My dear Coleridge,—­Not an unkind thought has passed in my brain about you.  But I have been wofully neglectful of you, so that I do not deserve to announce to you, that if I do not hear from you before then, I will set out on Wednesday morning to take you by the hand.  I would do it this moment, but an unexpected visit might flurry you.  I shall take silence for acquiescence, and come.  I am glad you could write so long a letter.  Old loves to, and hope of kind looks from, the Gilmans, when I come.

Yours semper idem C.L.

If you ever thought an offence, much more wrote it, against me, it must have been in the times of Noah; and the great waters swept it away.  Mary’s most kind love, and maybe a wrong prophet of your bodings!—­here she is crying for mere love over your letter.  I wring out less, but not sincerer, showers.

My direction is simply, Enfield.

[Mr. Dykes Campbell’s comment upon this note is that it was written to remove some mistaken sick-man’s fancy.]

LETTER 543

CHARLES LAMB TO JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES

[No date. ?  April, 1832.]

Dear Kn.—­I will not see London again without seeing your pleasant Play.  In meanwhile, pray, send three or four orders to a Lady who can’t afford to pay:  Miss James, No. 1 Grove Road, Lisson Grove, Paddington, a day or two before—­and come and see us some Evening with my hitherto uncorrupted and honest bookseller

Moxon.  C. LAMB.

[I have dated this April, 1832, because it may refer to Knowles’ play “The Hunchback,” produced April 5, 1832.  It might also possibly refer to “The Wife” of a year later, but I think not.]

LETTER 544

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN FORSTER

[?  Late April, 1832.]

                One day in my life
                Do come.  C.L.

I have placed poor Mary at Edmonton—­

I shall be very glad to see the Hunch Back and Straitback the 1st Even’g they can come.  I am very poorly indeed.  I have been cruelly thrown out.  Come and don’t let me drink too much.  I drank more yesterday than I ever did any one day in my life.

C.L.

Do come.

Cannot your Sister come and take a half bed—­or a whole one?  Which, alas, we have to spare.

[Mary Lamb would have been taken to Walden House, Edmonton, where mental patients were received.  A year later the Lambs moved there altogether.