Letter from Dorothy Wordsworth, Grasmere, to Lady Beaumont, 1806 July 9 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning the invitation by Sir George & Lady Beaumont to live at Coleorton during the winter and her thoughts on whether it might be an invitation they will accept; saying "In the first place, then, we seem to have no other spot to turn to, for there is not a house in this neighbourhood and our continuing here during another winter would be attended with so many serious inconveniences, especially to my Brother, who has no quiet corner in which to pursue his studies, no room but that where we all sit (to say nothing of the unwholesomeness of these low small rooms for such a number of persons) that we feel nothing short of absolute impossibility should prevent us from moving. Ever since my Brother's return from London we have thought about our removal to Coleorton as the only scheme in our power; but I abstained from speaking of it to you, thinking that at our meeting all things might be better explained. The solitude would be no evil to us with such a treasure of books, and even the dirty roads a trifling one, the house being so large that it would not be irksome or unhealthful to be confined there in rainy weather; but there is one circumstance which casts a damp upon our prospects, and is the only one that prevents us from looking forward to the journey with unmingled pleasure; - the being in your house and you not there; so near you, as it were, and not enjoying your society. On this account we could not but have many regrets; therefore if any house should become vacant in this neighbourhood before the beginning of winter, of course, it would be desirable to take it, and defer our journey till the end of next summer, when you will be there also;" discussing housing options for Lady Beaumont on her visit to Grasmere; explaining that the cause of her not writing lately has been the poor health of Mrs. Wordsworth from an inflammation in her mouth; adding that she started reading Mr. Knight's book [An Analytical Enquiry into the Principles of Taste] which Lady Beaumont sent her; mentioning that she discovered several items of clothing in "My Brother's Box" that they believe belong to Sir George along with a copy of The Lay of the Last Minstrel "...which we think must have come by mistake. We have two copies of our own sent to us by Mr. Scott."