The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume VI Part 100

Yours truly,

C. LAMB.

[In the life of H.F. Cary by his son we read: "He [Lamb] had borrowed of my father Phillips's _Theatrum Poetarum Anglicanorum_, which was returned by Lamb's friend, Mr. Moxon, with the leaf folded down at the account of Sir Philip Sydney." Mr. Cary acknowledged the receipt of the book by the following

LINES TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES LAMB

So should it be, my gentle friend; Thy leaf last closed at Sydney's end.

Thou too, like Sydney, wouldst have given The water, thirsting and near heaven; Nay were it wine, fill'd to the brim, Thou hadst look'd hard, but given, like him.

And art thou mingled then among Those famous sons of ancient song?

And do they gather round, and praise Thy relish Of their n.o.bler lays?

Waxing in mirth to hear thee tell With what strange mortals thou didst dwell!

At thy quaint sallies more delighted, Than any's long among them lighted!

'Tis done: and thou hast join'd a crew, To whom thy soul was justly due; And yet I think, where'er thou be, They'll scarcely love thee more than we.

This is the last letter of Charles Lamb, who tripped and fell in Church Street, Edmonton, on December 22, and died of erysipelas on December 27.

At the time of his death Lamb was very nearly sixty. His birthday was February 10.

Mary Lamb, with occasional lapses into sound health, survived him until May 20, 1847. At first she continued to live at Edmonton, but a few years later moved to the house of Mrs. Parsons, sister of her old nurse, Miss James, in St. John's Wood. I append three letters, two written and one inspired, by her, to Miss Jane Norris, one of the daughters of Randal Norris. Of the friends mentioned therein I might add that Edward Moxon lived until 1858; Mrs. Edward Moxon until 1891; James Kenney until 1849; Thomas Hood until 1845; and Barron Field until 1846.]

LETTER 615

MARY LAMB TO JANE NORRIS

[41 Alpha Road, Regent's Park]

Christmas Day [1841].

My dear Jane,--Many thanks for your kind presents--your Michalmas goose.

I thought Mr. Moxon had written to thank you--the turkeys and nice apples came yesterday.

Give my love to your dear Mother. I was unhappy to find your note in the basket, for I am always thinking of you all, and wondering when I shall ever see any of you again. I long to shew you what a nice snug place I have got into--in the midst of a pleasant little garden. I have a room for myself and my old books on the ground floor, and a little bedroom up two pairs of stairs. When you come to town, if you have not time to go [to] the Moxons, an Omnibus from the Bell and Crown in Holborn would [bring] you to our door in [a] quarter of an hour. If your dear Mother does not venture so far, I will contrive to pop down to see [her]. Love and all seasonable wishes to your sister and Mary, &c. I am in the midst of many friends--Mr. & Mrs. Kenney, Mr. & Mrs. Hood, Bar[r]on Field & his brother Frank, & their wives &c., all within a short walk.

If the lodger is gone, I shall have a bedroom will hold two! Heaven bless & preserve you all in health and happiness many a long year.

Yours affectionately,

M.A. LAMB.

LETTER 616

MARY LAMB TO JANE NORRIS

Oct. 3, 1842.

My dear Jane Norris,--Thanks, many thanks, my dear friend, for your kind remembrances. What a nice Goose! That, and all its accompaniments in the basket, we all devoured; the two legs fell to my share!!!

Your chearful [letter,] my Jane, made me feel "almost as good as new."

Your Mother and I _must meet again_. Do not be surprized if I pop in again for a half-hour's call some fine frosty morning.

Thank you, dear Jane, for the happy tidings that my _old_ friend Miss Bangham is alive, an[d] that Mary is still with you, unmarried. Heaven bless you all.

Love to Mother, _Betsey_, Mary, &c. How I do long to see you.

I am always your affecately grateful friend,

MARY ANN LAMB.

LAST LETTER

Miss JAMES TO JANE NORRIS

41 Alpha Road, Regent's Park,

London, July 25, 1843.

Madam,--Miss Lamb, having seen the Death of your dear Mother in the Times News Paper, is most anxious to hear from or to see one of you, as she wishes to know how you intend settling yourselves, and to have a full account of your dear Mother's last illness. She was much shocked on reading of her death, and appeared very vexed that she had not been to see her, [and] wanted very much to come down and see you both; but we were really afraid to let her take the journey. If either of you are coming up to town, she would be glad if you would call upon her, but should you not be likely to come soon, she would be very much pleased if one of you would have the goodness to write a few lines to her, as she is most anxious about you. She begs you to excuse her writing to you herself, as she don't feel equal to it; she asked me yesterday to write for her. I am happy to say she is at present pretty well, although your dear Mother's death appears to dwell much upon her mind. She desires her kindest love to you both, and hopes to hear from you very soon, if you are equal to writing. I sincerely hope you will oblige her, and am,

Madam,

Your obedient, &c.,

SARAH JAMES.

Pray don't invite her to come down to see you.

APPENDIX

CONSISTING OF THE LONGER Pa.s.sAGES FROM BOOKS REFERRED TO BY LAMB IN HIS LETTERS

BERNARD BARTON'S "THE SPIRITUAL LAW"