Works of Charles and Mary Lamb. VI-VII. Letters
Charles Lamb to Vincent Novello, [May 1830]
DEAR N.—pray
write immediately to say “The book has come safe.” I am
anxious, not so much for the autographs, as for that bit of the hair brush. I
enclose a cinder, which belonged to ![]()
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Shield, when he was poor, and lit his
own fires. Any memorial of a great Musical Genius, I know, is acceptable; and
Shield has his merits, though Clementi, in my opinion, is far above him in
the Sostenuto. Mr. Westwood desires his
compliments, and begs to present you with a nail that came out of Jomelli’s coffin, who is buried at
Naples.
Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)
Italian composer, pianist, and pedagogue who issued the long re-published
Gradus ad Parnassum.
Vincent Novello (1781-1861)
English music publisher and friend of Charles Lamb, Leigh Hunt, and Percy Bysshe
Shelley.
William Shield (1748 c.-1829)
English composer of operas, ballets, and pantomimes; in 1817 he succeeded Sir William
Parsons as master of musicians to the king.
Thomas Westwood senior (1833 fl.)
A retired haberdasher, he was the miserly agent for the Phoenix Insurance Company with
whom Charles and Mary Lamb lodged at Enfield from 1829-33.
