The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, vol 6 | Page 8

It was at her house at Cambridge that the
Lambs met Emma Isola, whom we are soon to meet.
"Mrs. Smith." Lamb worked up this portion of his letter into the little
humorous sketch "The Gentle Giantess," printed in the London
Magazine for December, 1822 (see Vol. I. of the present edition),
wherein Mrs. Smith of Cambridge becomes the Widow Blacket of
Oxford.
"Dr. W."--Dr. Christopher Wordsworth.]

LETTER 265
CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP
[No date. 1821.]
Dear Sir--The hairs of our head are numbered, but those which
emanate from your heart defy arithmetic. I would send longer thanks
but your young man is blowing his fingers in the Passage.
Yours gratefully C.L.
[The date of this scrap is unimportant; but it comes well here in
connection with the reference in the preceding letter.
In _Harper's Magazine_ for December, 1859, were printed fifty of
Lamb's notes to Allsop, all of which are reproduced in at least two
editions of Lamb's letters. I have selected only those which say
anything, as for the most part Lamb was content with the merest
message; moreover, the date is often so uncertain as to be only
misleading.
Crabb Robinson says of Allsop, "I believe his acquaintance with Lamb
originated in his sending Coleridge a present of £100 in admiration of
his genius."]

LETTER 266
CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP
[No date. 1821.]
D'r Sir--Thanks for the Birds and your kindness. It was but yesterd'y. I
was contriving with Talf'd to meet you 1/2 way at his chamber. But
night don't do so well at present. I shall want to be home at Dalston by
Eight.
I will pay an afternoon visit to you when you please. I dine at a
chop-house at ONE always, but I can spend an hour with you after that.
Yours truly
C.L.
Would Saturdy serve?

LETTER 267
CHARLES LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAM AYRTON
[Dated at end: Jan. 23, 1821.]
Dear Mrs. Ayrton, my sister desires me, as being a more expert penman
than herself, to say that she saw Mrs. Paris yesterday, and that she is
very much out of spirits, and has expressed a great wish to see your son
William, and Fanny--
I like to write that word Fanny. I do not know but it was one reason of
taking upon me this pleasing task--
Moreover that if the said William and Frances will go and sit an hour
with her at any time, she will engage that no one else shall see them but
herself, and the servant who opens the door, she being confined to her
private room. I trust you and the Juveniles will comply with this
reasonable request.
& am Dear Mrs. Ayrton your's and yours' Truly C. LAMB. Cov. Gar.
23 Jan. 1821.
[Mrs. Ayrton (_née_ Arnold) was the wife of William Ayrton, the
musical critic.]

LETTER 268
CHARLES LAMB TO MISS HUMPHREYS
London 27 Jan'y. 1821.
Dear Madam, Carriages to Cambridge are in such request, owing to the

Installation, that we have found it impossible to procure a conveyance
for Emma before Wednesday, on which day between the hours of 3 and
4 in the afternoon you will see your little friend, with her bloom
somewhat impaired by late hours and dissipation, but her gait, gesture,
and general manners (I flatter myself) considerably improved
by--somebody that shall be nameless. My sister joins me in love to all
true Trumpingtonians, not specifying any, to avoid envy; and begs me
to assure you that Emma has been a very good girl, which, with certain
limitations, I must myself subscribe to. I wish I could cure her of
making dog's ears in books, and pinching them on poor Pompey, who,
for one, I dare say, will heartily rejoyce at her departure.
Dear Madam,
Yours truly
foolish C.L.
[Addressed to "Miss Humphreys, with Mrs. Paris, Trumpington Street,
Cambridge." Franked by J. Rickman.
This letter contains the first reference in the correspondence to Emma
Isola, daughter of Charles Isola, Esquire Bedell of Cambridge
University, and granddaughter of Agostino Isola, the Italian critic and
teacher, of Cambridge, among whose pupils had been Wordsworth.
Miss Humphreys was Emma Isola's aunt. Emma seems to have been
brought to London by Mrs. Paris and left with the Lambs.
Pompey seems to have been the Lamb's first dog. Later, as we shall see,
they adopted Dash.]

LETTER 269
CHARLES LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAM AYRTON
[Dated at end: March 15, 1821.]
Dear Madam, We are out of town of necessity till Wednesday next,
when we hope to see one of you at least to a rubber. On some future
Saturday we shall most gladly accept your kind offer. When I read your
delicate little note, I am ashamed of my great staring letters.
Yours most truly
CHARLES LAMB.
Dalston near