BIB_ID
119216
Accession number
MA 1581.276
Creator
Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850.
Display Date
Rydal, England, 1831 July 8.
Credit line
Purchased from Benjamin Ifor Evans, 1954.
Description
1 item (4 pages, with address) ; 22.7 x 18.6 cm
Notes
This letter was formerly identified as MA 1581 (Wordsworth) 46.
This letter is from a large collection of letters written to Sir George Howland Beaumont (1753-1827) and Lady Margaret Willes Beaumont (1758-1829) of Coleorton Hall and to other members of the Beaumont family. See collection-level record for more information (MA 1581.1-297).
Address panel to "Lady Beaumont / Coleorton Hall / Ashby de la Zouche / Leicestershire."
Lady Beaumont is the wife of Sir George Howland Willoughby Beaumont, 8th Baronet, cousin and heir to Sir George Howland Beaumont, 7th Baronet (1753-1827).
William Wordsworth writes the first half of the letter and following his signature his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth continues with a letter in her hand.
This letter is from a large collection of letters written to Sir George Howland Beaumont (1753-1827) and Lady Margaret Willes Beaumont (1758-1829) of Coleorton Hall and to other members of the Beaumont family. See collection-level record for more information (MA 1581.1-297).
Address panel to "Lady Beaumont / Coleorton Hall / Ashby de la Zouche / Leicestershire."
Lady Beaumont is the wife of Sir George Howland Willoughby Beaumont, 8th Baronet, cousin and heir to Sir George Howland Beaumont, 7th Baronet (1753-1827).
William Wordsworth writes the first half of the letter and following his signature his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth continues with a letter in her hand.
Provenance
Purchased as a gift of the Fellows from Benjamin Ifor Evans, 1954.
Summary
Apologizing for the delay in his reply but saying how glad he is to hear of everyone's good health; accepting the role of "...God-father to the Little William. I need not repeat how much I am attached to Coleorton - the place and its Inhabitants - departed and present - and how sincerely I wish the welfare of your family;" relating an anecdote involving Rotha Quillian, his god-daughter, who is visiting him; saying he is "...not sorry that Sir George is not in the present parliament; and do let him beware of contested elections - they entail incalculable expense, and are mostly attended with mortification that no one can foresee;" discussing an article in the Quarterly Review on Malthus; saying "It is monstrous to affirm with Mr. Malthus that the World is overpeopled - yet they err grievously on the other side who talk as if there were no obligations upon people to reflect before marriage how their children are to be maintained. If impolitic or unjust laws stand in the way of the earth being as productive as it might be, and impediments are thus grown in the way of marriage, that is no reason why poor people should go about marrying as fast and as recklessly as they can - still less is it a reason, as Mr. M. lays down, that they should not marry at all;" continuing the letter in Dorothy Wordsworth's hand; declining an invitation to Coleorton in September due to "...various circumstances which have determined me not to move southward this year...;" saying Mary Wordsworth has returned from Cheltenham; saying "I wish I could add that she had there left her rheumatic pains and Lumbago. Since her return she has had another sharp attack; the lumbago is, however, subdued but the rheumatism is still flying about her limbs;" congratulating her on the successful birth of William and commenting on the poor health of Mr. Merewether saying "It seems that the perils into which our rash Governors are leading this long-favoured Country oppress his mind. I trust the Archbishop is well as you say nothing to the contrary; but he must needs feel the weight of his high station, and the numerous extra cares now forced upon him;" adding that her brother needed no persuading to accept the role of godfather to her son.
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