WORDSWORTH'S POETRY. 131 



laid amongst the mountains of Cumberland and 

 Westmoreland." How much is it to be regretted 

 that the intention was not carried into effect, 

 though perhaps you will say, it has been ac- 

 complished in the body of his poetry; that 

 his poems altogether are a great pastoral, and 

 almost all that can be desired as regards the 

 Lake District. Be this as it may, need I re- 

 mark that in these delightful productions of 

 the poet's mind, we must not expect literal 

 exactness of description. His object was to 

 convey his own impressions to the minds of 

 his readers ; and this he probably thought he 

 could best effect after the manner of the 

 accomplished artist, whether in sculpture or 

 painting, by the refining, idealising method. 

 This I mention in consequence of your re- 

 mark. Had the poet been more exact, would 

 he have been more successful ? His de- 

 scriptions probably would have ceased to be 

 poetry, and might have been unendurably tire- 

 some. And I mention this the more to im- 

 press on you that in reading Wordsworth, even 

 when particular objects are introduced, whether 

 mountain, lake, or ruin, church or dwelling, we 

 are not to look for exactness of local descrip- 



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