LETTER 552

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[Dated by Forster at end: Dec., 1832.]

This is my notion. Wait till you are able to throw away a round sum (say 1500) upon a speculation, and then --don't do it. For all your loving encouragem'ts--till this final damp came in the shape of your letter, thanks--for Books also--greet the Fosters and Proctors--and come singly or conjunctively as soon as you can. Johnson and Fare's sheets have been wash'd--unless you prefer Danby's _last_ bed--at the Horseshoe.

[I a.s.sume Lamb's advice to refer to Moxon's intention of founding a paper called _The Reflector_, which Forster was to edit. All trace of this periodical has vanished, but it existed in December, 1832, for three numbers, and was then withdrawn. Lamb contributed to it.

Johnson and Fare had just murdered--on December l9--a Mr. Danby, at Enfield. They had met him in the Crown and Horseshoes (see note to next Letter).

Mr. W.C. Hazlitt prints a note to Moxon in his Bohn edition in which Lamb advises the withdrawal of _The Reflector_ at once. This would be December, 1832.]

LETTER 553

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN FORSTER

To Messrs. Bradbury & Evans, 14 Bouverie Street, Fleet Street. For the Editor of the Reflector from C. Lamb.

[P.M. Dec. 23, 1832.]

I am very sorry the poor Reflector is abortive. Twas a child of good promise for its _weeks_. But if the chances are so much against it, withdraw immediately. It is idle up hill waste of money to spend another stamp on it.

[Around the seal of this note are the words in Lamb's hand: "Obiit Edwardus Reflector Armiger, 31 Dec., 1832. Natus tres hebdomidas. Pax animae ejus."

The newspaper stamp at that time was fourpence (less 25 per cent.).

Here should come a letter from Lamb to Louisa Badams (_nee_ Holcroft), dated December 31, 1832, not available for this edition, in which, after some plain speaking about the Westwoods, Lamb refers to the murder of Mr. Danby at Enfield by Fare and two other men on the night of December 19, and says that he had been in their company at the inn a little before, and the next morning was asked to give his evidence. Canon Ainger says that Lamb's story is a hoax, but it reads reasonably enough and might as easily have happened as not.]

LETTER 554

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[No date. Jan., 1833.]

I have a proof from Dilke. _That_ serves for next Sat.u.r.day. What Forster had, will serve a second. I sent you a _third_ concluding article for _him_ and _us_ (a capital hit, I think, about Cervantes) of which I leave you to judge whether we shall not want it to print _before_ a third or even second week. In that case beg D. to clap them in all at once; and keep the Atheneums to print from. What I send is the concluding Article of the painters.

Soften down the t.i.tle in the Book to

"Defect of the Imaginative Faculty in Artists."

Consult Dilke.

[Lamb's _Elia_ essay "Barrenness of the Imaginative Faculty in the Production of Modern Art," intended originally for _The Englishman's Magazine_, was partly printed by Forster in _The Reflector_ and finally printed in full in _The Athenaeum_ in January and February, 1833. The reference to Don Quixote is at the end. Moxon was already printing the _Last Essays of Elia_.

"Consult Dilke" was a favourite phrase with Lamb and Hood and, long before, with Keats.]

LETTER 555

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[P.M. Jan. 3(1833).]

Be sure and let me have the Atheneum--or, if they don't appear, the Copy back again. I have no other.

I am glad you are introduced to Rickman, _cultivate the introduction_. I will not forget to write to him.

I want to see Blackwood, but _not without you_.

We are yet Emma-less.

And so that is all I can remember.

This is a corkscrew.

[_Here is a florid corkscrew._]

C. Lamb, born 1775 flourished about the year 1832.

C.L. Fecit.--

[Lamb refers still to the "Barrenness of Imagination" series.

There are several sc.r.a.ps addressed by Lamb to Forster in the South Kensington Museum; but they are undated and of little importance. I append one or two here:--]

LETTER 556

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN FORSTER

[No date.]

Orders.

Go to Dilke's, or Let Mockson, and ax him to add this to what I sent him a few days since, or to continue it the week after. The Plantas &c. are capital.

Requests.