LIFE AT ELLEEAT. SI 



into a green-house, a conservatory of every thing rich and rare in 

 the world of flowers. Folding-doors are drawn noiselessly into 

 the walls as if by magic, and lo ! drawing-room and dining-room 

 stretching east and west in dim and distant perspective. Another 

 side of the square contains kitchen, servants' rooms, etc. ; and the 

 third side my study and bedrooms, all still, silent, composed, stand- 

 ing obscure, unseen, unapproachable, holy ! The fourth side of the 

 square is not ; shrubs and trees and a productive garden shut me 

 in from behind, while a ring fence enclosing about five acres, just 

 sufficient for my nag and cow, form a magical circle into which 

 nothing vile or profane can intrude." 



The new house at E'.leray, of which this was an ideal descrip- 

 tion, was, as Mr. De Quincey remarked, a silent commentary on its 

 master's state of mind, and an exemplification of his character. 

 The plan, when completed, which in appearance had been extrava- 

 gant, turned out in reality to have been calculated with the coolest 

 judgment and nicest foresight of domestic needs. 



In this beautiful retirement the young poet was now at liberty to 

 enjoy all the varied delights of poetic meditation, of congenial 

 society, and of those endless out-door recreations which constituted 

 no small part of his life. Soon did his presence become identified 

 with every nook and corner of that lake region. In the mountain 

 pass, by the lonely stream, on the waters of the lake, by night and 

 by day, in the houses of the rich and the poor, he came to be recog- 

 nized as a familiar and welcome presence. Often would the early 

 morning find him watching the rising mist, until the whole laud- 

 scape lay clear before his enraptured eyes, and the fresh beauty of 

 the hour invited him to a long day's ramble into the heart of the 

 valley. Though much given, as of old, to solitary wanderings, he 

 did not neglect to cultivate the society of the remarkable men 

 whom he found in that district, when he took up his residence at 

 Elleray, — Wordsworth at Rydal, Southey and Coleridge at Kes- 

 wick, Charles Lloyd at Brathay, Bishop Watson at Calgarth, the 

 Rev. Mr. Fleming at Rayrig, and other friends of lesser note, but 

 not less pleasant memory, in and around Ambleside. 



The first meeting with Wordsworth did not take place till the 

 year 1807, the poet and his family having lived the greater part of 

 that year at Colerton, returning to Grasmere in the spring of 1808. 

 At his house there, towards tire latter end of that year, Wilson met 



