The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume VI Part 86

[No date. Feb., 1833.]

My dear M.--I send you the last proof--not of my friends.h.i.+p-- pray see to the finish.

I think you will see the necessity of adding those words after "Preface"--and "Preface" should be in the "contents-table"--

I take for granted you approve the t.i.tle. I do thoroughly-- Perhaps if you advertise it in full, as it now stands, the t.i.tle page might have simply the Last Essays of Elia, to keep out any notion of its being a second vol.--

Well, I wish us luck heartily for your sake who have smarted by me.--

LETTER 562

CHARLES LAMB TO T.N. TALFOURD

February, 1833.

My dear T.,--Now cannot I call him _Serjeant_; what is there in a coif?

Those canvas-sleeves protective from ink, when he was a law-chit--a _Chitty_ling, (let the leathern ap.r.o.n be apocryphal) do more 'specially plead to the Jury Court of old memory. The costume (will he agnize it?) was as of a desk-fellow or Socius Plutei. Methought I spied a brother!

That familiarity is extinct for ever. Curse me if I can call him Mr.

Serjeant--except, mark me, in _company_. Honour where honour is due; but should he ever visit us, (do you think he ever will, Mary?) what a distinction should I keep up between him and our less fortunate friend, H.C.R.! Decent respect shall always be the Crabb's--but, somehow, short of reverence.

Well, of my old friends, I have lived to see two knighted: one made a judge, another in a fair way to it. Why am I restive? why stands my sun upon Gibeah?

Variously, my dear Mrs. Talfourd, (I can be more familiar with her!) _Mrs. Serjeant Talfourd_,--my sister prompts me--(these ladies stand upon ceremonies)--has the congratulable news affected the members of our small community. Mary comprehended it at once, and entered into it heartily. Mrs. W---- was, as usual, perverse--wouldn't, or couldn't, understand it. A Serjeant? She thought Mr. T. was in the law. Didn't know that he ever 'listed.

Emma alone truly sympathised. _She_ had a silk gown come home that very day, and has precedence before her learned sisters accordingly.

We are going to drink the health of Mr. and Mrs. Serjeant, with all the young serjeantry--and that is all that I can see that I shall get by the promotion.

Valete, et mementote amici quondam vestri humillimi.

C.L.

[Talfourd, who had been pupil of Joseph Chitty, had just become a serjeant.

"H.C.R."--Crabb Robinson.

"My old friends." Stoddart and Tuthill were knighted; Barron Field was a judge; Talfourd was to become both a knight and a judge.

"Mrs. W----." Mrs. Westwood, I suppose.]

LETTER 563

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[No date. 1833.]

D'r M. let us see you & your Brother on Sunday--The Elias are beautifully got up. Be cautious how you name the _probability_ of bringing 'em ever out complete--till these are gone off. Everybody'd say "O I'll wait then."

An't we to have a copy of the Sonnets--

Mind, I shall _insist_ upon having no more copies: only I shall take 3 or 4 more of you at trade price. I am resolute about this. Yours ever--

LETTER 564

CHARLES LAMB TO C.W. DILKE

[P.M. Feb., 1833.]

CHRISTIAN NAMES OF WOMEN

(TO EDITH S-----)

In Christian world MARY the garland wears!

REBECCA sweetens on a Hebrew's ear; Quakers for pure PRISCILLA are more clear; And the light Gaul by amorous NINON swears.

Among the lesser lights how LUCY s.h.i.+nes!

What air of fragrance ROSAMUND throws round!

How like a hymn doth sweet CECILIA sound!

Of MARTHAS, and of ABIGAILS, few lines Have bragg'd in verse. Of coa.r.s.est household stuff Should homely JOAN be fas.h.i.+oned. But can You BARBARA resist, or MARIAN?

And is not CLARE for love excuse enough?

Yet, by my faith in numbers, I profess, These all, than Saxon EDITH, please me less.

Many thanks for the life you have given us--I am perfectly satisfied.

But if you advert to it again, I give you a delicate hint. Barbara S---- shadows under that name Miss Kelly's early life, and I had the Anecdote beautifully from her.

[The sonnet, addressed to Edith Southey, was printed in _The Athenaeum_ for March 9, 1833.

For "Barbara S----" see Vol. II. of the present edition.]

LETTER 565

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[No date. Early 1833.]

No _writing_, and no _word_, ever pa.s.sed between Taylor, or Hessey, and me, respecting copy right. This I can swear. They made a volume at their own will, and volunteerd me a third of profits, which came to 30, which came to _Bilk_, and never came back to me. Proctor has acted a friendly part--when did he otherwise? I am very sorry to hear Mrs. P---- _as I suppose_ is not so well. I meditated a rallying epistle to him on his Gemini--his two Sosias, accusing him of having acted a notable piece of duplicity. But if his partner in the double dealing suffers--it would be unseasonable. You cannot rememb'r me to him too kindly. Your chearful letter has relieved us from the dumps; all may be well. I rejoice at your letting your house so magnificently. Talfourd's letter may be directed to him "On the Western Circuit."* That is the way, send it.

With Blackwood pray send Piozziana and a Literary Gazette if you have one. The Piozzi and that shall be immed'tly return'd, and I keep Mad.

Darblay for you eventually, a longwinded reader at present having use of it.