LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
Recollections of Writers
Leigh Hunt to Mary Cowden Clarke, 20 February 1840
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Contents
Preface
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX
John Keats
Charles Lamb
Mary Lamb
Leigh Hunt
Douglas Jerrold
Charles Dickens
Index
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Chelsea, Feb. 20th, 1840.

My dear Victoria—Do not think me ungrateful for
250 RECOLLECTIONS OF WRITERS  
either of your kind and most welcome notes in having thus hitherto delayed to answer them. The conclusion of the first brought the tears into my eyes, which, I assure you, the exclamations it speaks of, delightful as they were, did not; such a difference is there between a public idea and “the distinct and ascertained affection of a private one. But I have not even yet recovered from the hurry and perplexity of an exquisitely overwhelming correspondence, and I delayed copies of the play to your father and you two (for I am not yet rich enough to offer it the only desirable divorce between you, that of giving you a book apiece) till I could send the second edition, which contains the proper acknowledgment of the music he was so kind as to send me, and which I expect to be out every day, and the MS. of the act you so naturally prefer shall come at the same time. Meanwhile (with Charles’ leave) pray let me give you in imagination the half dozen kisses which you would certainly have had to undergo, as others did, had you been near me on that occasion. I suppose your mother does not care for them, or for me, as she does not send me a word. Well, never mind, I’ll sulk and try to do without her. And yet, somehow, give her my love to vex her; and to everybody else that is loving, and grasp Charles’ hand for me till he cries out.

Your affectionate friend,
L. H.