us some time ago) in the Professor’s company—­at Mrs. Watson’s, widow of the Bp., at Calgarth, and at Mr. Bolton’s.  Poor Mr. B.! he must have been greatly shocked at the fatal accident that put an end to his friend Huskisson’s earthly career.  There is another acquaintance of mine also recently gone—­a person for whom I never had any love, but with whom I had for a short time a good deal of intimacy.  I mean Hazlitt, whose death you may have seen announced in the papers.  He was a man of extraordinary acuteness, but perverse as Lord Byron himself; whose life by Galt I have been skimming since I came here.  Galt affects to be very profound, though [he] is in fact a very shallow fellow,—­and perhaps the most illogical writer that these illogical days have produced.  His ‘buts’ and his ‘therefores’ are singularly misapplied, singularly even for this unthinking age.  He accuses Mr. Southey of pursuing Lord B——­ with rancour.  I should like a reference to what Mr. S——­ has written of Lord B——­, to ascertain whether this charge be well founded.  I trust it is not, both from what I know of my friend, and for the aversion which Mr. G——­ has expressed towards the Lakers, whom in the plenitude of his ignorance he is pleased to speak of as a class or school of Poets.

Now for a word on the serious part of your letter.  Your views of action and contemplation are, I think, just.  If you can lay your hands upon Mr. Coleridge’s ‘Friend,’ you will find some remarks of mine upon a letter signed, if I recollect right, ‘Mathetes,’ which was written by Professor Wilson, in which, if I am not mistaken, sentiments like yours are expressed.  At all events, I am sure that I have long retained those opinions, and have frequently expressed them either by letter or otherwise.  One thing, however, is not to be forgotten concerning active life—­that a personal independence must be provided for; and in some cases more is required—­ability to assist our friends, relations, and natural dependents.  The party are at breakfast, and I must close this wretched scrawl, which pray excuse.

Ever faithfully yours,
WM. WORDSWORTH.[65]

[65] Memoirs, i. 433, with important additions from the MS. G.

Pray continue to write at your leisure.  How could I have forgot so long to thank you for your obliging present, which I shall value on every account?

39. Roman Catholics:  Bible Society, &c.

LETTER TO ARCHDEACON WRANGHAM.

Grasmere, March 27 [1811].

MY DEAR WRANGHAM,

Your last letter, which I have left so long unanswered, found me in a distressed state of mind, with one of my children lying nearly, as I thought, at the point of death.  This put me off answering your letter....

You return to the R. Catholic Question.  I am decidedly of opinion that no further concessions should be made.  The R. Catholic Emancipation is a mere pretext of ambitious and discontented men.  Are you prepared for the next step—­a R. Catholic Established Church?  I confess I dread the thought.