138 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



"As to Wordsworth, I shall only say, that while I cannot at all 

 agree, nor is it necessary, in your estimate of his poetical talents, I 

 love and honor the feelings by which I think your judgment has 

 been misled, and by which I most readily admit that your conduct 

 should be governed. I assure you I am not the least hurt or of- 

 fended at hearing his poetry extolled, or my remarks upon it 

 arraigned as unjust or erroneous ; only I hope you will not set them 

 down as sure proof of moral depravity, and utter want of all good 

 affections. I should be sorry that any good man should think this 

 of me as an individual ; as to the opinion that may be formed of my 

 critical qualifications, it is impossible for any one to be more indif- 

 ferent than myself. I am conscious of being quite sincere in all the 

 opinions I express, but I am the furthest in the world from thinking 

 them infallible, or even having any considerable assurance of their 

 appearing right to persons of good judgment. 



" I wish I had more leisure to talk to you of such matters ; but I 

 cannot at present afford to indulge myself any further. I think we 

 now understand each other in a way to prevent all risk of future 

 misunderstanding. Believe me always, dear sir, very faithfully 



yours, " F. Jeffrey. 



" 92 George Street, Saturday Evening." 



The pleasant relations thus established between these two men 

 led to a still closer intimacy, which, though unhappily interrupted 

 by subsequent events, was renewed in after years, when the bitter- 

 ness of old controversies had yielded to the hallowing influences of 

 time. 



Whether there was any work done during this year in poetry or 

 prose, I cannot say ; but in the way of acquiring materials for future 

 " Recreations of Christopher North" there was undoubtedly a good 

 deal. All the other memorials at least that I have of this year, and 

 a good part of the next, are connected almost entirely with angling, 

 and extensive "raids" into the Highlands. It would almost seem as 

 if there was an unwillingness fairly to cast anchor and remain stead- 

 ily at work. The stimulus to literary exertion had not yet come with 

 imperative force, and in the interval, before he fairly girded himself 

 up to regular work, he sought strength for it in his love of nature 

 and pedestrian wandering. These excursions, it is but fair to ob- 

 serve, however, appear to have been confined to the proper vacation 

 time of his profession. 



