The Wordsworth Trust, which operates Wordsworth Grasmere and Dove Cottage, has acquired three letters penned by William Wordsworth, at Christie’s auction in London.
The letters, from Cumbria’s most famous poet, provide further insight into the lives of William Wordsworth and his wider family. In particular, they detail references towards Wordsworth’s political views and challenges he faced in engaging in national affairs from his home in rural Westmorland.
The three letters also show the extent of Wordsworth’s circle, especially his connections with prominent figures of the Romantic period in Britain.
The earliest of the three letters, dated 24 May 1809 (when the Wordsworths were living at Allan Bank), is to British essayist, critic and memoirist, Thomas De Quincey, a close friend of Wordsworth. It details his trepidation over the publication of his first political pamphlet, The Convention of Cintra, an attack on British diplomacy during the Napoleonic Wars. The letter also contains the handwriting of William’s sister-in-law, Sara Hutchinson. She writes with news of Dove Cottage, which the Wordsworths were busy making ready for De Quincey to take over the tenancy.
The other two letters are from Wordsworth to Sir William Rowan Hamilton. The acquisition of these two letters is particularly significant as the Wordsworth Trust already holds letters from Hamilton to Wordsworth. Purchasing Wordsworth’s handwritten letters completes important gaps in the history and timeline of the poet. One of the letters is written from Rydal Mount, where Hamilton stayed in 1830 and 1831. He left a record of his visits in an album belonging to the Wordsworths’ daughter Dora, which also forms part of the Wordsworth Trust’s collection. The Wordsworth Trust took over ownership of Rydal Mount earlier this year.
All three letters will eventually go on display at Wordsworth Grasmere.
Discussing the purchase, Wordsworth Trust Director, Michael McGregor said: “We are incredibly lucky to have such generous donors to help us to continue to build on our existing collection. Without their help this simply wouldn’t be possible. Wordsworth Grasmere is rare as a literary attraction in having so much primary material in the location in which it was inspired and written.”
“Our team does an incredible job of preserving these valuable materials for future generations to discover and learn from. The generosity of our donors combined with the knowledge of our staff enables us to continue to provide a world class visitor experience that is rich in material that tells the wider story behind Dove Cottage and its famous inhabitants.”
Purchased at Christie’s with the support of Friends of the Nations’ Libraries and a private supporter, the letters sold at auction for £5,000 and will further enhance the offering at Wordsworth Grasmere.
