in his heart to lay out the necessary hire for labourers at the proper season, and consequently he has often been seen in half-dotage working his hay in the month of November by moonlight, a melancholy sight which I myself have witnessed. Notwithstanding all that has been said, this man, on account of his talents and superior education, was looked up to by his parishioners, who, without a single exception, lived at that time (and most of them upon their own small inheritances) in a state of republican equality, a condition favourable to the growth of kindly feelings among them, and in a striking degree exclusive to temptations to gross vice and scandalous behaviour. As a pastor their curate did little or nothing for them; but what could more strikingly set forth the efficacy of the Church of England through its Ordinances and Liturgy than that, in spite of the unworthiness of the minister, his church was regularly attended; and, though there was not much appearance in his flock of what might be called animated piety, intoxication was rare, and dissolute morals unknown? With the Bible they were for the most part well acquainted; and, as was strikingly shown when they were under affliction, must have been supported and comforted by habitual belief in those truths which it is the aim of the Church to inculcate. Loughrigg Tarn (page 20). This beautiful pool and the surrounding scene are minutely described in my little Book on the Lakes. Sir G. H. Beaumont, in the earlier part of his life, was induced, by his love of nature and the art of painting, to take up his abode at Old Brathay, about three miles from this spot, so that he must have seen it under many aspects; and he was so much pleased with it that he purchased the Tarn with a view to build, near it, such a residence as is alluded to in this Epistle. Baronets and knights were not so common in that day as now, and Sir Michael le Fleming, not liking to have a rival in that kind of distinction so near him, claimed a sort of lordship over the territory, and showed dispositions little in unison with those of Sir G. Beaumont, who was eminently a lover of peace. The project of building was in consequence given up, Sir George retaining possession of the Tarn. Many years afterwards a Kendal tradesman born upon its banks applied to me for the purchase of it, and accordingly it was sold for the sum that had been given for it, and the money was laid out under my direction upon a substantial oak fence for a certain number of دو yew trees to be planted in Grasmere churchyard; two were planted in each enclosure, with a view to remove, after a certain time, the one which throve the least. After several years, the stouter plant being left, the others were taken up and placed in other parts of the same churchyard, and were adequately fenced at the expense and under the care of the late Mr. Barber, Mr. Greenwood, and myself: the whole eight are now thriving, and are already an ornament to a place which, during late years, has lost much of its rustic simplicity by the introduction of iron palisades to fence off family burying-grounds, and by numerous monuments, some of them in very bad taste; from which this place of burial was in my memory quite free. See the lines in the sixth book of "The Excursion beginning" Green is the churchyard, beautiful and green." The "Epistle " to which these notes refer, though written so far back as 1804 [1811-ED.], was carefully revised so late as 1842, previous to its publication. I am loth to add, that it was never seen by the person to whom it is addressed. So sensible am I of the deficiencies in all that I write, and so far does everything that I attempt fall short of what I wish it to be, that even private publication, if such a term may be allowed, requires more resolution than I can command. I have written to give vent to my own mind, and not without hope that, some time or other, kindred minds might benefit by my labours: but I am inclined to believe I should never have ventured to send forth any verses of mine to the world if it had not been done on the pressure of personal occasions. Had I been a rich man, my productions, like this "Epistle," the tragedy of "The Borderers," etc., would most likely have been confined to manuscript.-I. F. Dated by Wordsworth 1811; first published 1842. In the Fenwick note, as printed by Knight, it is stated that he wrote it in 1804, I can hardly doubt that this is an error of Miss Fenwick or the transcriber or printer of the note. (The Bishop of Lincoln " Memoirs," vol. i. p. 377, prints 1811.") We have ("Coleorton Letters," "vol. ii. p. 129) a letter of Wordsworth to Sir G. Beaumont written Aug. 28, 1811, from his seaside cottage near Bootle, Cumberland. The Fenwick note mentions the transference of the opening lines of the Epistle to the first series of Scotch Memorials. L. 20, "like a Centinel" (1850); previously "stedfast Centinel." Between 1. 134 and 1. 135 appeared in 1842 the following lines, omitted "Until the Vale she quitted, and their door And doze, or, if his hour were come, to die." In his letter of Aug. 28, 1811, Wordsworth describes the remarkable cloud effects seen from the Cumberland coast on the distant mountains of the Isle of Man.-ED. Upon Perusing the Foregoing Epistle (page 20). Written 1841 (as title states thirty years after" the composition of the "Epistle"); first published 1842. Text unchanged.-ED. Gold and Silver Fishes in a Vase (page 21). They were a present from Miss Jewsbury, of whom mention is made in the note at the end of the next poem. The fish were healthy to all appearance in their confinement for a long time, but at last, for some cause we could not make out, they languished, and, one of them being all but dead, they were taken to the pool under the old Pollard-oak. The apparently dying one lay on its side unable to move. I used to watch it, and about the tenth day it began to right itself, and in a few days more was able to swim about with its companions. For many months they continued to prosper in their new place of abode; but one night by an unusually great flood they were swept out of the pool, and perished to our great regret.-I. F. " Dated by Wordsworth 1829; first published 1835. In 1835 the words from the Countess of Winchilsea (see vol. iii. p. 330) more than dull content Though haply less than joy are in quotation marks. L. 37 (1837); in 1835, "When they abate their fiery glare." This and the next following poem were placed among "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection," 1837-1843.-ED. Liberty (page 23). Dated by Wordsworth 1829; first published 1835. In the Fenwick note on 66 Humanity (vol. iv. p. 245 and notes) Wordsworth states that " Humanity" and "Liberty" were composed as one piece, and were divided on the advice of Mrs. Wordsworth. L. 2, "Anna," i.e., Mrs. Fletcher (Miss Jewsbury), see Wordsworth's note. Ll. 9-12 (1845); in 1835: "That spreads into an elfin pool opaque Of which close boughs a glimmering mirror make, The last line became in 1837, "The fly may settle, or the blossom fall." L. 21, "Alas! they pined" (1845); previously " They pined, perhaps," L. 49, "mournful" (1837); in 1835, 66 a mournful." Poor Robin (page 28). I often ask myself what will become of Rydal Mount after our day. Will the old walls and steps remain in front of the house and about the grounds, or will they be swept away with all the beautiful mosses and ferns and wild geraniums and other flowers which their rude construction suffered and encouraged to grow among them? This little wild flower-"Poor Robin "-is here constantly courting my attention, and exciting what may be called a domestic interest with the varying aspects of its stalks and leaves and flowers. Strangely do the tastes of men differ according to their employment and habits of life. "What a nice well would that be," said a labouring man to me one day, " if all that rubbish was cleared off." The "rubbish" was some of the most beautiful mosses and lichens and ferns and other wild growths that could possibly be seen. Defend us from the tyranny of trimness and neatness showing itself in this way! Chatterton says of freedom-" Upon her head wild weeds were spread ;' and depend upon it if "the marvellous boy" had undertaken to give Flora a garland, he would have preferred what we are apt to call weeds to garden-flowers. True taste has an eye for both. Weeds have been called flowers out of place. I fear the place most people would assign to them is too limited. Let them come near to our abodes, as surely they may without impropriety or disorder.-I. F. Dated by Wordsworth March, 1840; first published 66 1842. L. 7, "tufts" (1845); in 1842, "tuft." L. 16, wealth or want” (1845); in 1842, "want or wealth.” -ED. The Gleaner (page 30). This poem was first printed in the Annual called the "Keepsake." The painter's name I am not sure of, but I think it was Holmes.-I. F. Dated by Wordsworth 1828; first published in 1829 in "The Keepsake," with the title, "The Country Girl"; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1832; placed previous to 1845 among "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection." "The person I had in my mind," wrote Wordsworth, "lives near the Blue Bell, Fillingham-a sweet creature: we saw her going to Hereford." L. 9, "And" (1837); previously "Of." L. 11,"Whispering of promise" (1837); previously "Of promise whispering." L. 31, "Ponder the blessing" (1832); in 1829, "Do weigh the blessing."-ED. To a Redbreast—(in sickness) (page 31). Almost the only verses by our lamented Sister Sara Hutchinson.-I. F. First published 1842.-ED. "I know an aged Man," etc. (page 32). Dated by Wordsworth 1846; first published 1850. --ED. Sonnet. To an Octogenarian (page 33). Dated by Wordsworth 1846; first published 1850.-ED. Floating Island (page 34). First published 1842.-ED. "How beautiful the Queen of Night" (page 35). Date uncertain; assigned to 1846 by Knight; first published 1850.--ED. "Once I could hail (howe'er serene the sky)" (page 35). "No faculty yet given me to espy The dusky Shape within her arms imbound." Afterwards, when I could not avoid seeing it, I wondered |