a rnTTT , -roTT* ^X-, TWT,™ » 



THE ISLE OF PALMS. 107 



seen, determined to give the world some fruit of his meditative 

 hours during these apparently idle years at Elleray. 



Three months after his marriage he again addressed Mr. Smith 

 on the subject of his poems : — 



"Elleray, August 11, 1811. 



" It is now so long since you have heard from me, that I dare say 

 you begin to entertain rational doubts of my existence. I am, how- 

 ever, alive and well ; better both in mind and body than when I 

 last saw you, and unless the damnation of my poems affect my 

 health and spirits, likely for a considerable time to be off the sick- 

 list. 



" So many things have occurred, if not to occupy, at least to 

 interrupt my time since my marriage, which took place on the 11th 

 of May, that I thought it best not to write you till I found myself 

 in some measure settled, and in a hopeful way of doing some good. 

 I have written a considerable number of poems of a smaller size 

 since my marriage, so that were the first poems of the collection 

 finished, I think I have MS. enough for a volume of 400 pages, 

 which I am desirous it should be. I know not how it is, but I 

 have felt a strange disinclination to work at the longest poem ; but 

 on receiving your answer, all minor occupations shall be laid aside, 

 and the work be proceeded with in good earnest. Indeed, such is 

 my waywardness of fancy, that I feel constantly impelled to write 

 each day on a different subject, which I should be prevented from 

 doing were a day fixed for the commencement of the printing. 

 Suppose we say that on the 1st of October every thing shall be 

 ready for going to press ; and if so, you may depend upon it that 

 the press shall never be allowed to remain idle one day for want of 

 matter. It would be most satisfactory for me to retain the MS. of 

 my poems in my own hands, except such quantity as need be in the 

 printer's hands. Thus, I will send the longest poem by cantos, 

 there being four, and so on. I cannot in a letter sufficiently explain 

 my reasons for wishing this ; but unless you agree to it, it will be 

 very painful to me, and I am confident it will be for the interest of 

 the work. With respect to preface, I am doubtful if I shall have 

 one ; if so, it will consist of a very few pages, two or three at the 

 most. I suppose the preface will be numbered separately from the 

 poems, and therefore may be printed after them, should I like it, 

 and in like manner the title-page, etc. 

 5* 



