in Caleb Williams, for instance, but you cannot doubt for a moment of the originality of the work and the force of the conception. The impression made upon the reader is the exact measure of the strength of the author's genius. For the effect both in Caleb Williams and St. Leon is entirely made out, not by facts nor dates, by blackletter, or magazine learning, by transcript nor record, but by intense and patient study of the human heart, and by an imagination projecting itself into certain situations, and capable of working up its imaginary feelings to the height of reality.' This appears to me quite correct - Now I will copy the other Poem-it is on the double immortality of Poets ['Bards of Passion and of Mirth,' p. 125]. These are specimens of a sort of rondeau which I think I shall become partial tobecause you have one idea amplified with greater ease and more delight and freedom than in the sonnet. It is my intention to wait a few years before I publish any minor poems and then I hope to have a volume of some worth- and which those people will relish who cannot bear the burthen of a long poem. In my journal I intend to copy the poems I write the days they are written There is just room, I see, in this page to copy a little thing I wrote off to some Music as it was playing ['I had a dove and the sweet dove died,' p. 125]. Sunday [January 3]. -- I have been dining with Dilke to-day He is up to his Ears in Walpole's letters. Mr. Manker is there, and I have come round to see if I can conjure up anything for you. Kirkman came down to see me this morning his family has been very badly off lately. He told me of a villainous trick of his Uncle William in Newgate Street, who became sole Creditor to his father under pretence of serving him, and put an execution on his own Sister's goods. He went in to the family at Portsmouth; conversed with them, went out and sent in the Sherriff's officer. He tells me too of abominable behaviour of Archer to Caroline Mathew-Archer has lived nearly at the Mathews these two years; he has been amusing Caroline - and now he has written a Letter to Mrs. M. declining, on pretence of inability to support a wife as he would wish, all thoughts of marriage. What is the worst is Caroline is 27 years old. It is an abominable matter. He has called upon me twice lately I was out both times. What can it be for? - There is a letter to-day in the Examiner to the Electors of Westminster on Mr. Hobhouse's account. In it there is a good character of Cobbett I have not the paper by me or I would copy it. I do not think I have mentioned the discovery of an African Kingdomthe account is much the same as the first accounts of Mexico-all magnificence — There is a Book being written about it. I will read it and give you the cream in my next. The romance we have heard upon it runs thus: They have window frames of gold-100,000 infantry-human sacrifices. The Gentleman who is the Adventurer has his wife with him-she, I am told, is a beautiful little sylphid woman - her husband was to have been sacrificed to their Gods and was led through a Chamber filled with different instruments of torture with privilege to choose what death he would die, without their having a thought of his aversion to such a death, they considering it a supreme distinction. However he was let off, and became a favourite with the King, who at last openly patronised him, though at first on account of the Jealousy of his Ministers he was wont to hold conversations with his Majesty in the dark middle of the night. All this sounds a little Bluebeardish — but I hope it is true. There is another thing I must mention of the momentous kind; - but I must mind my periods in it - Mrs. Dilke has two Cats -a Mother and a Daughter - now the Mother is a tabby and the daughter a black and white like the spotted child. Now it appears to me, for the doors of both houses are opened frequently, so that there is a complete thoroughfare for both Cats (there being no board up to the contrary), they may one and several of them come into my room ad libitum. But no the Tabby only comes whether from sympathy for Ann the Maid or me I cannot tell-or whether Brown has left behind him any atmospheric spirit of Maidenhood I cannot tell. The Cat is not an old Maid herself her daughter is a proof of it I have questioned her I have look'd at the lines of her paw I have felt her pulse - to no purpose. Why should the old Cat come to me? I ask myself and myself has not a word to answer. It may come to light some day; if it does you shall hear of it. Kirkman this morning promised to write a few lines to you and send them to Haslam. I do not think I have anything to say in the Business way. You will let me know what you would wish done with your property in England · what things you would wish sent out But I am quite in the dark about what you are doing If I do not hear soon I shall put on my wings and be after you. I will in my next, and after I have seen your next letter, tell you my own particular idea of America. Your next letter will be the key by which I shall open your hearts and see what spaces want filling with any particular information Whether the affairs of Europe are more or less interesting to you whether you would like to hear of the Theatres the bear Garden of the Boxers - the Painters, the Lectures the Dress - The progress of Dandyism - The Progress of Courtship- -or the fate of Mary Millar being a full, true, and très particular account of Miss M.'s ten Suitors - How the first tried the effect of swearing; the second of stammering; the third of whispering;the fourth of sonnets -the fifth of Spanish leather boots, - the sixth of flattering her body the seventh of flattering her mind - of the eighth of flattering himself - the - ninth stuck to the Mother the tenth kissed the Chambermaid and told her to tell her Mistress - But he was soon discharged, his reading led him into an error; he could not sport the Sir Lucius to any advantage. And now for this time I bid you good-bye-I have been thinking of these sheets so long that I appear in closing them to take my leave of you but that is not it I shall immediately as I send this off begin my journal — when some days I shall write no more than 10 lines and others 10 times as much. Mrs. Dilke is knocking at the wall for Tea is ready — I will tell you what sort of a tea it is and then bid you Good-bye. Wentworth Place, Friday Morn [December 18, 1818]. MY DEAR WOODHOUSE I am greatly obliged to you. I must needs feel flattered by making an impression on a set of ladies. I should be content to do so by meretricious romance verse, if they alone, and not men, were to judge. I should like very much to know those ladies though look here, Woodhouse - I have a new leaf to turn over: I must work; I must read; I must write. I am unable to afford time for new acquaintances. I am scarcely able to do my duty to those I have. Leave the matter to chance. But do not forget to give my remembrances to your cousin. Yours most sincerely JOHN KEATS. 83. TO MRS. REYNOLDS Wentworth Place, Tuesd. [December 22, 1818]. MY DEAR MRS. REYNOLDS . When I left you yesterday, 't was with the conviction that you thought I had received no previous invitation for Christmas day: the truth is I had, and had accepted it under the conviction that I should be in Hampshire at the time: else believe me I should not have done so, but kept in Mind my old friends. I will not speak of the proportion of pleasure I may receive at different Houses - that never enters my head you may take for a truth that I would have given up even what I did see to be a greater pleasure, for the sake of old acquaintanceship time is nothing two JOHN KEATS. 84. TO BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON Wentworth Place, Tuesday [December 22, 1818]. - MY DEAR HAYDON Upon my Soul I never felt your going out of the room at all-and believe me I never rhodomontade anywhere but in your Company - my general Life in Society is silence. I feel in myself all the vices of a Poet, irritability, love of effect and admiration — and influenced by such devils I may at times say more ridiculous things than I am aware of- but I will put a stop to that in a manner I have long resolved upon I will buy a gold ring and put it on my finger- and from that time a Man of superior head shall never have occasion to pity me, or one of inferior Nunskull to chuckle at me. I am certainly more for greatness in a shade than in the open day — I am speaking as a mortal - I should I value say more the privilege of seeing great things in loneliness than the fame of a Prophet. Yet here I am sinning - so I will turn to a thing I have thought on more - I mean your means till your picture be finished: - - not only now but for this year and half have I thought of it. Believe me Haydon I have that sort of fire in my heart that would sacrifice everything I have to your service I speak without any reserve - I know you would do so for me - I open my heart to you in a few words. I will do this sooner than you shall be distressed: but let me be the last stay-- Ask the rich lovers of Art first I'll tell you why I have a little money which may enable me to study, and to travel for three or four years. I never expect to get anything by my Books: and moreover I wish to avoid publishingI admire Human Nature but I do not like Men. I should like to compose things honourable to Man- but not fingerable over by Men. So I am anxious to exist without troubling the printer's devil or drawing upon Men's or Women's admiration — in which great solitude I hope God will give me strength to rejoice. Try the long purses but do not sell your drawings or I shall consider it a breach of friendship. I am sorry I was not at home when Salmon [Haydon's servant] called. Do write and let me know all your present whys and wherefores. Wentworth Place, Wednesday [December 30, 1818]. MY DEAR FANNY-I am confined at Hampstead with a sore throat; but I do not expect it will keep me above two or three days. I intended to have been in Town yesterday but feel obliged to be careful a little while. I am in general so careless of these trifles, that they tease me for Months, when a few days' care is all that is necessary. I shall not neglect any chance of an endeavour to let you return to School -nor to procure you a Visit to Mrs. Dilke's which I have great fears about. Write me if you can find time and also get a few lines ready for George as the Post sails next Wednesday. Your affectionate Brother JOHN 88. TO BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON Wentworth Place, Monday Aft. [January 4, 1819]. MY DEAR HAYDON - I have been out this morning, and did not therefore see your note till this minute, or I would have gone to town directly it is now too late for to-day. I will be in town early tomorrow, and trust I shall be able to lend you assistance noon or night. I was struck with the improvement in the architectural part of your Picture- and, now I think on - or I shall have a little trouble in procuring the Money and a great ordeal to go through no trouble indeed to any one else ordeal either. I mean I shall have to go to town some thrice, and stand in the Bank an hour or two- to me worse than anything in Dante- I should have less chance with the people around me than Orpheus had with the Stones. I have been writing a little now and then lately: but nothing to speak of being discontented and as it were moulting. Yet I do not think I shall ever come to the rope or the Pistol, for after a day or two's melancholy, although I smoke more and more my own insufficiency—I see by little and little more of what is to be done, and how it is to be done, should I ever be able to do it. On my soul, there should be some reward for that continual agonie ennuyeuse. I was thinking of going into Hampshire for a few days. I have been delaying it longer than I intended. You shall see me soon; and do not be at all anxious, for this time I really will do, what I never did before in my life, business in good time, and properly. With respect to the Bond — it may be a satisfaction to you to let me have it: but as you love me do not let there be any mention of interest, although we are mortal men and bind ourselves for fear of death. 90. TO THE SAME Wentworth Place, [January 1819]. MY DEAR HAYDON- - My throat has not suffered me yet to expose myself to the night air however I have been to town in the day time-have had several interviews with my guardian have written him rather a plain-spoken Letter - which has had its effect; and he now seems inclined to put no stumbling-block in my way: so that I see a good prospect of performing my promise. What I should have lent you ere this if I could have got it, was belonging to poor Tom and the difficulty is whether I am to inherit it before my Sister is of age; a period of six years. Should it be so I must incontinently take to Corduroy Trousers. But I am nearly confident 't is all a Bam. I shall see you soon- - but do let me have a line to-day or to-morrow concerning your health and spirits. Your sincere friend JOHN KEATS. deliver it to her, without reading one word further. 'read thou Squire. There is a wager depending on this. : MY CHARMING DEAR MRS. DILKE,-It was delightful to receive a letter from you, - but such a letter! what presumption in me to attempt to answer it! Where shall I find, in my poor brain, such jibes, such jeers, such flashes of merriment? Alas! you will say, as you read me, Alas! poor Brown! quite chop fallen! But that's not true; my chops have been beautifully plumped out since I came here my dinners have been good & nourishing & my inside never washed by a red herring broth. Then my mind has been so happy!: I have been smiled on by the fair ones,, the Lacy's, the Prices, & the Mullings's,, but not by the Richards's; Old Dicky has not called here during my visit, — I have not seen him; the whole of the family are shuffling to carriage folks for acquaintances,. cutting their old friends, and dealing out pride & folly, while we allow they have got the odd trick, but dispute their honours.. I was determined to be beforehand with, them, & behaved cavalierly & neglectingly to the family, & passed the girls in Havant with a slight bow. — Keats is much better,. owing to a strict forbearance from a third glass of wine. He & I walked from Chi-cester yesterday, we were here at 3, but the Dinner was finished; a brace of Muir fowl had been dressed; I ate a piece. of the breast cold, & it was not tainted; I dared not venture further. Mr. Snook was nearly turned sick by being merely asked to take a mouthful. The other brace was so high, that the cook declined preparing them for the spit, & they were thrown away.. I see your husband declared them to be in excellent order; I supposed he enjoyed them in a disgusting manner, — sucking the rotten flesh off the bones, & crunching the putrid bones. Did you eat any? I hope not, for an ooman should be delicate words in the second paragraph designed by Brown to make his joke perfectly clear. |