* * * * *

Page 316.  MRS. LEICESTER’S SCHOOL.

This charming little book was published by Mrs. Godwin at the end of 1808, dated 1809, with no author’s name attached.  Besides, however, ample internal evidence as to its authorship, there are many references to it in Lamb’s letters.  Why it was issued anonymously we cannot now learn; probably, as I have suggested, from Mary Lamb’s unwillingness to have her name in print.  The Tales from Shakespear, it will be remembered, were described always as being by Charles Lamb, although Mary did far more than half, and it was at the outset her book.  Her share of Mrs. Leicester’s School was equally great, and a sentence in one of her letters to Sarah Stoddart suggests that it was hers in inception also:  “I have been busy making waistcoats, and plotting new work to succeed the Tales.”  Possibly it was because his share in the book was so small that Lamb refused to sign Mrs. Leicester’s School as he had the Tales from Shakespear; possibly he had other reasons, the title-page of his Dramatic Specimens being one of them.  When, a little while afterwards, the Poetry for Children was published, it was stated to be “by the author of Mrs. Leicester’s School,” while several of the poems when reprinted by Mylius (see notes below) were signed Mrs. Leicester.  Thus, Mary Lamb’s last chance of seeing her name on a title-page vanished.  But we may feel confident that her own wishes were consulted in the matter.

Lamb’s share in Mrs. Leicester’s School we know from a letter to Bernard Barton (January 23, 1824):  “My Sister’s part in the Leicester School (about two thirds) was purely her own; as it was (to the same quantity) in the Shakspeare Tales which bear my name.  I wrote only the Witch Aunt, the first going to Church, and the final Story, about a little Indian girl in a ship.”

The little book was well received, and was quietly popular for some years, running into eight editions by 1823.  I imagine, however, that it was little known between 1830 and the end of the century.  Latterly there has been a revival in interest.  One or two critics have touched rapturous heights in their praise.  Landor wrote to Crabb Robinson in April, 1831:—­

It is now several days since I read the book you recommended to me, “Mrs. Leicester’s School;” and I feel as if I owed you a debt in deferring to thank you for many hours of exquisite delight.  Never have I read anything in prose so many times over within so short a space of time as “The Father’s Wedding-day.”  Most people, I understand, prefer the first tale—­in truth a very admirable one—­but others could have written it.  Show me the man or woman, modern or ancient, who could have written this one sentence:  “When I was dressed in my new frock, I wished poor mamma was alive, to see how fine I was on papa’s wedding day; and I ran to my favourite station at her bedroom door.”