PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY 1792-1822

To T.J.  HOGG

His first marriage

[No date.  Postmark, Rhayader.  Summer of 1811.]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

You will perhaps see me before you can answer this; perhaps not; Heaven knows!  I shall certainly come to York, but Harriet Westbrook will decide whether now or in three weeks.  Her father has persecuted her in a most horrible way, by endeavouring to compel her to go to school.  She asked my advice:  resistance, was the answer, at the same time that I essayed to mollify Mr. W. in vain!  And in consequence of my advice she has thrown herself upon my protection.

I set off for London on Monday.  How flattering a distinction!—­I am thinking of ten million things at once.

What have I said?  I declare, quite ludicrous.  I advised her to resist.  She wrote to say that resistance was useless, but that she would fly with me, and threw herself upon my protection.  We shall have L200 a year; when we find it run short, we must live, I suppose, upon love!  Gratitude and admiration, all demand that I should love her for ever. We shall see you at York.  I will hear your arguments for matrimonialism, by which I am now almost convinced.  I can get lodgings at York, I suppose.  Direct to me at Graham’s, 18, Sackville Street, Piccadilly.

Your inclosure of L10 has arrived; I am now indebted to you L30.  In spite of philosophy, I am rather ashamed of this unceremonious exsiccation of your financial river.  But indeed, my dear friend, the gratitude which I owe you for your society and attachment ought so far to overbalance this consideration as to leave me nothing but that.  I must, however, pay you when I can.

I suspect that the strain is gone for ever.  This letter will convince you that I am not under the influence of a strain.

I am thinking at once of ten million things.  I shall come to live near you, as Mr. Peyton.

Ever your most faithful friend.

I shall be at 18, Sackville Street; at least direct there.  Do not send more cash; I shall raise supplies in London.

To WILLIAM GODWIN

An introduction

Keswick, 3 Jan. 1812.

You will be surprised at hearing from a stranger.  No introduction has, nor in all probability ever will authorize that which common thinkers would call a liberty; it is, however, a liberty which, although not sanctioned by custom, is so far from being reprobated by reason, that the dearest interests of mankind imperiously demand that a certain etiquette of fashion should no longer keep ’man at a distance from man’, or impose its flimsy fancies between the free communication of intellect.

The name of Godwin has been used to excite in me feelings of reverence and admiration.  I have been accustomed to consider him a luminary too dazzling for the darkness which surrounds him.  From the earliest period of my knowledge of his principles, I have ardently desired to share, on the footing of intimacy, that intellect which I have delighted to contemplate in its emanations.