Memoirs of William Hazlitt
Ch. II: 1791-95
William Hazlitt to William Hazlitt sen.; 6 October 1793
“London, October 6th, 1793.
“Dear Father,
“I received your very kind letter yesterday morning.
With respect to my past behaviour, I have often said, and I now assure you.
that it did not proceed from any real disaffection, but merely from the nervous
disorder to which, you well know, I was so much subject. This was really the
case, however improbable it may appear. Nothing particular occurred from the
time I wrote last, till the Saturday following. On the Wednesday before,
Corrie had given me a theme. As it
was not a subject suited to my genius, and from other causes, I had not written
anything on it; so that I was not pleased to hear his bell on Saturday morning,
which was the time for showing our themes. When I came to him, he asked me
whether I had prepared my theme. I told him I had not. You should have a very
good ![]()
![]()
reason indeed, sir, says he,
for neglecting it. Why really, sir, says I, I could not write it. Did you never
write anything, then, says he? Yes, sir, I said; I have written some things.
Very well, then, go along and write your theme immediately, said he. I
accordingly went away, but did not make much progress in my theme an hour
after, when his bell rang for another lecture. My eyes were much swollen, and I
assumed as sullen a countenance as I could, intimating that he had not treated
me well. After the lecture, as I was going away, he called me back, and asked
me very mildly if I had never written, anything. I answered, I had written
several things. On which he desired me to let him see one of my compositions,
if I had no objection. I immediately took him my ‘Essay on Laws,’ and gave it to him. When he had read it, he
asked me a few questions on the subject, which I answered very satisfactorily,
I believe. Well, sir, says he, I wish you’d write some more such things
as this. Why, sir, said I, I intended to write several things which I have
planned, but that I could not write any of them in a week, or two or three
weeks. What did you intend to write? says he. Among other things, I told him
that I intended to enlarge and improve the essay he had been reading. Ay, says
he, I wish you would. Well, I will do it then, sir, said I. Do so, said he;
take your own time now; I shall not ask you for it; only write it as soon as
you can, for I shall often be thinking of it, and very desirous of it. This he
repeated once or twice. On this I wished him a good morning, and came away,
very well pleased with ![]()
![]()
the
reception I had met. The Greek class which I have been in this week consists of
two old students, J. Mason, and myself.
I think that I translate more correctly, and much better, than any of them. The
other day Mason was laughing at me while I was translating
a passage, on account of my way of speaking. Says Corrie
to him, Mr. Mason, you should be sure you can translate
yours as well as Mr. Hazlitt does his,
before you laugh at your neighbours.
“I believe I am liked very well by the students, in
general. I am pretty intimate with one of them, whose name is
Tonson. F.
Swanwick has been hitherto in a different class; but on applying
to Corrie, he has been put into the same
class with me. Farewell!
“I am your affectionate son,
“W. Hazlitt.”
John Corrie (1769-1839)
The son of Josiah Corrie (1725-1800); educated at Daventry Academy and New College,
Hackney, he was a schoolmaster, president of the Birmingham Philosophical Society, and
Unitarian minister at the Old Meeting House (1817-19). Maria Edgeworth admired his
“very agreeable benevolent countenance, most agreeable voice.”
William Hazlitt (1778-1830)
English essayist and literary critic; author of
Characters of
Shakespeare's Plays (1817),
Lectures on the English Poets
(1818), and
The Spirit of the Age (1825).
James Mason (1779 c.-1827)
A classmate of William Hazlitt's at Hackney, he resided at Shrewsbury and published
political pamphlets, literary works, and a translation of Virgil.
Joseph Swanwick (1777-1841)
After study with the elder William Hazlitt at Wem he attended New College, Hackney; he
was a manufacturer in Chester.
