136 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



I supped and went to bed. Next forenoon at eleven o'clock, a party 

 of men arrived from Ambleside with the Coroner, and I found from 

 them that the road though difficult was passable, so I faced the hill 

 and arrived safe at Chapman's in two hours and ten minutes, hav- 

 ing slid along with great rapidity. The thaw was beginning, and 

 had I waited another day, the snow would have been soft and im- 

 passable, as it lay in many places ten feet deep, and I walked over 

 two gates. I dined with William Curwen, and walked to De Quin- 

 cey's, which I reached at half-past one o'clock in the morning ; he 

 was at the JVab, and when he returned about three o'clock, found 

 me asleep in his bed. I readied Elleray only last night, having 

 spent the whole of Saturday with the lesser man ; he walked to 

 Elleray with me, where we drank tea ; he then returned to Gras- 

 mere ; and no sheets being on the bed, I walked to Bowness, and 

 stayed all night. I am still here, and it rains severely. As yet, El- 

 leray is all in the dark. I shall dine there to-morrow alone, but not 

 stay all night, for the lonesomeness is insupportable. I will write 

 a longer letter, and give you news. Nobody, I fear, has died here 

 since I saw you. Billy is well, and his two nephews are at present 

 residing with him at Elleray. His father and mother are expected 

 daily, and a few distant relations. 



" Lloyd is in a mad-house ; Wordsworth and family from home. 

 Write me on receipt of this (if not before) ; direct to me at Mrs. 

 Ullock's, Bowness. Eternally thine with all affection, 



"J. Wilson." 



During the next month he was constantly occupied with the 

 printers, and on the 13th of March he writes to Mr. Smith: — 



" I ought long ago to have acknowledged the receipt of your dif- 

 ferent letters ; but I have been busier than any man ever was before. 



" My volume went round the trade to-day ; with what success I 

 know not. My expectations are but moderate. The volume is too 

 thin and so is the paper, but I believe there is more printing and 

 pages than 10s. 6d. books in general. I put your name into the 

 title page, which I shall ever be happy to do on similar occasions. 



"These failures in Glasgow will not be favorable to me as an 

 author." 



The reception of the volume was altogether favorable ; and it was 

 recognized as indicating a marked increase of power and discipline 



