Letter from E.H. Cradock, Oxford, to William Angus Knight, 1881 November 10 : autograph manuscript signed.

Expressing his disappointment at not seeing him in Grasmere, discussing his collaboration with Mr. Rawnsley, Vicar of Wray, on an inscription for a memorial to honor John & William Wordsworth and suggesting an edit for a possible 2nd Edition of Knight's book on the Lake District & Wordsworth; saying that both Lord Coleridge and Matthew Arnold were at Rydal while he was there "...but I did not see much of either. Mr. Rawnsley, Vicar of Wray, & some others are intending to place an inscription near to the spot where Wm. & John Wordsworth parted. They asked my opinion as to their selection of the lines to be inscribed, which were the last stanza (VII) in the poem 'The Sheepboy whistled aloud'. I objected to the last three lines which appear to me very poor - the sentiment common place & reminding one of a dullish sermon. It was found however very difficult to select extracts at the same time sufficiently suggestive, and not inconveniently long. I believe that the present idea is to use the first quatrain of Stanzas II, IV and VII. 12 lines in all. with stars between the quatrains, showing that they are fragmentary - This is not quite satisfactory but I could suggest nothing better - I wish that you would try your hand and give your opinion to Rev. H.D. Rawnsley / Wray Vicarage / Ambleside. He has been printing a little vol. of Sonnets connected with Lake subjects, varying a good deal in merit, as may be expected, but containing some very good ones;" offering him a specific clarification to a line in his book for him to consider for a possible second edition; saying "I have heard your little book repeatedly praised - I think you must be wanting a 2nd Edition soon - I should like to hear when you are about it - For a small suggestion see p. 34. It is scarcely possible that the 'immortal boy' can be identical with W. Raincock of Rayrigg - the immortal was born at Hawkshead (see the lines you quote) [illegible] Rayrigg is close to Bowness - It is just conceivable that W.R. may have been born at Hawkshead & then moved to Rayrigg??;" asking, in a postscript, "Where shall I pay my subscription to the Wordsworth Club?"