Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2119 page)

“To THE SAME.

“Hallsteads, Cumberland, Aug. 22nd, 1832.

“I arrived here safe and sound on Monday evening, and look forward with anxiety to Sunday next, when I calculate on the arrival of intelligence from home, to me the place of all others I delight in, unless indeed its great attractions were here.

“At this moment — eight o’clock, A.M. — I am in my room, from the windows of which I behold a perfect paradise. The house is within two hundred yards of the edge of the lake, upon a promontory jutting out into the lake itself. This spot, much to the credit of Mr. Marshall’s taste, was selected by himself as the site of the house.

“My time, both here and at Mr. Greene’s, has passed very agreeably; every sort of attention and kindness anticipating my wants. I parted from Mr. and Mrs. Greene on Monday, at Kendal, with much regret. More affectionate people I never saw; a fine little fellow, their son, about Willie’s age, burst out crying during the ride, and after sobbing some time, upon being asked what he was so miserable about, said in the most artless manner, ‘Because Mr. Collins is going to leave us!’ The only drawback to all this delight is the state of the weather; it might, however, have been much worse, and I still hope may be found better. Tell Willie and Charley nothing affords their father more happiness than to hear they are good and attentive to their mother during his absence. — Adieu!”

“Sept. 8th, 1832.

“Your letter found me yesterday at Mr. W. Marshall’s, in whose neighbourhood I had been sketching all day, so that I did not get it till six o’clock, when I returned to dinner. Mr. Marshall has a delightful house (Patterdale Hall), about six miles from this place. Our ride home by moonlight, the lake reflecting the mountains in a way ‘tis impossible to tell of, either in poetry, or painting, was an enjoyment, like everything I have met with since I have left home, wanting but the presence of my wife to make it perfect. How grateful we ought to feel to Almighty God, for our perceptions of the witness he has not left himself without, anywhere; and in all his mercies to
us,
especially. Amidst the grand features of this country one certainly feels the littleness of all ‘the peopled city’s busy vanity.’ With this feeling, I cannot but quote you a verse from a poem written by — -, who is really a gifted person, with a sense of religion in all her thoughts, which in our whole day’s sketching has been to me most gratifying. When she accompanies us, she either takes some volume of Cowper, (the poet whom properly to feel, one ought to read in such scenes as these,) or repeats from a vast collection of his ‘Beauties,’ selected with the greatest taste, some of the loveliest of them. Now you must not say to any one that she writes poetry — the Goths of this world would think her crazy. She has given me a copy of her volume, upon condition that I divulge to no one the author’s name. As I told her that I had no secrets and pleasures in which my wife did not partake, she of course consented to my wish that you should read them, and know about them. If I am not much mistaken, you will be as pleased with the book as I am. — The conclusion of this letter I must now however defer; for here I am, writing to my wife, before I have even made my toilet. I did not go to bed until one o’clock this morning, and it is now only just eight. Fare thee well for the present; but I must first remember to give you my promised quotation — it runs thus:

‘Glory to thee, Almighty! who didst make
This earth a place of beauty, and who still —
Though earth be ruin’d for her master’s sake —
Dost, with the outskirts of her glory, fill
The lone recesses of her majesty,
And mak’st her silence eloquent of thee!”

“I cannot even now tell you when I may turn homewards — my kind friends still press me to stay: next week I will write again. We are now going for a ramble over the mountains. Farewell! “

“Wednesday morning. I received your letter with much satisfaction, especially as I fully expected it the day before it arrived. I am sure if I were to remain at this place for a month, I should be a welcome guest — more kind and attentive people I never met with. The great facilities of moving about, I find of the utmost benefit both to my health and professional pursuits. The weather is the only thing against us: it has been raining almost incessantly, since two o’clock yesterday. Monday however was enchantingly fine, and we were on the lake for six or seven hours. Before we started for the day, we rowed about within reach of a messenger I had posted to bring your letter on board; for, notwithstanding the eagerness of three delightful young ladies, under my sole direction and care, who were not much disposed to linger about the shores, so near home, and the surprise of the rest of our party, from the windows of the house, at our delay, wait I would; and wait I did, till I got my letter — and then I was as merry as the best of them; and a most delightful day we had. I must now however break off: for some of the party are waiting for me; and, hoping the weather may favour our views, I must join them.” * * *

“To THE SAME.

“Patterdale Hall, Penrith.

“The never-to-be-forgotten Sixteenth of September.
This is I believe the first return of our wedding day, that we have been separated (in
body
) in
spirit
we cannot, I pray, be ever asunder. This day, as indeed every day since I have left you, I have drunk your health after dinner, to myself; and am now in my own room, writing another letter to you, on my way towards home. Yesterday, I left Hallsteads, where I experienced, within two days of a month’s kindness and attention, which I can never forget. To-morrow I go to Grasmere, and thence, in three or four days, proceed to Birmingham; and then home. How have we been favoured, that during ten years, this is the first wedding-day we have spent apart. May it be the last!

“Your last letter, received on Thursday, was a great delight to me. I had been riding for some hours, came home about six, and found a nice fire (thanks to Mrs. Marshall’s kind anticipation of my more than expectations) to dress by, and just time to read your epistle before dinner, which made me happy for the night. As your next is the last I am likely to receive, let it be a long one — I know nothing
I
have neglected to tell
you,
except the thousand things I reserve for our own fire-side I never have a moment to spare; this letter must be sent to-morrow morning before eight, and I have sketching to do till four, when I have ordered my chaise for Grasmere. * * “

“To THE SAME.

“The Cottage, Grasmere, September 22nd, 1832.

“I had intended to leave this place on Wednesday or Thursday next; but, Mr. and Mrs. Parry, like the other
unreasonable
beings I have encountered since I have left home, will not give me up. They have however agreed to make every arrangement for sending me back — at least from this place — on Monday week; so, about Thursday week, I promise myself the greatest earthly happiness, that of returning to my family — that I loved them greatly I always knew; but how much, never till now. I cannot tell you how kind the Parrys are, and how much I enjoy the beauties of this neighbourhood; which I saw something of, when I was last in this country, with poor Sir George Beaumont, fourteen years ago.

“I have many places yet to visit; and, if the weather be but as fine as it has been since my arrival, I hope to get some useful sketches, and at least to derive much benefit from the air and exercise I take daily. Yesterday I rode twenty miles, upon a beautiful little white pony, and have been out all to-day. We have two pleasant people, Mr. and Mrs. Stinton, of Hampstead, who go with us in our sketching parties. Mr. and Mrs. Wordsworth, wish much that I should spend two or three days with them; but I have positively declined their kind invitation, and am determined to refuse every invitation but yours, and I hope to stay with you, until you are tired of me.

“The cottage I am staying in is perfectly unique, — the vale most tranquil and lovely; but of this anon. Perhaps I may some day have the great gratification of showing this and the adjoining county to my wife and children. All my friends have been kind enough to express a hope that, some day, I may bring you to see them and their places. They all think that I have the best of wives, but that I am too fond of her, and, (which
I
know too,) that I am quite spoiling her; but be this as it may, I cannot change my conduct to her now.

“I think you have 110 reason to complain of the shortness of my letters; at least, upon this occasion. As probably the next you write will be received so shortly before my departure for home, I shall expect a volume. Short or long, however, you know how I shall prize it.

“Affectionately yours,

“WILLIAM COLLINS.”

Soon after his return, the painter again departed with Wilkie to pay the last of his series of country visits at Drayton Manor, the hospitable mansion of Sir Robert Peel. From this pleasant sojourn, he writes briefly as follows:

“To MRS. W. COLLINS.

“Drayton Manor, Oct. 12th, 1832.

“I take advantage of a frank to Kensington to send you a line, although I cannot yet say when I may return. We are quite well, and go about seeing everything that is to be seen. Yesterday, Sir Robert Peel took us to Tamworth Castle, (mentioned in ‘Marmion.’) To-day we go to Litchfield. Chantrey has been here, and is just now gone. He came on Monday.

“I am writing in the midst of conversation, and moreover
in the midst of the day,
so must come to a speedy conclusion. Tell the boys that there are two or three really good boys here, and that I trust they have been most excellent children.

“W. C.”

A prevalence of unusually bad weather, and the anxiety attending too close an application to the study of his new subjects and contemplated pictures, somewhat injured Mr. Collins ‘s usually good health at the close of the autumn. The bodily inconveniences of this year were, however, but the too faithful forerunners of the more serious visitation of mental affliction which was in store for him during the next, and to which it will ere long be needful more particularly to refer. In the mean time it is necessary to return to the date of his labours for 1833; and next, to notice the chief characteristics of the works he exhibited in that season.

His unwearied anxiety to diversify incessantly, his manner of making his Art instructive and interesting to the public, and his natural disposition to view success in one effort only as the incentive to attempt it in another, induced the painter to undertake another elabourate composition, which, while totally different in subject from the picture of “Skittle-players,” should yet be treated upon the forcible and original principle that had presided over the execution of his last year’s work. The scene he now selected to depict was the pursuit of the sea-fowl. His method of treating this subject was so bold and ambitious that a brother Academician, who was shown the sketch of the picture, declared that he had attempted to push the illustrative capabilities of Art beyond what they would bear, and that to execute such a design was next to an impossibility. It will be seen, when the Exhibition of 1833 falls under notice, that this impossibility was nevertheless accomplished, and accomplished so successfully that small repetitions of part of the composition were demanded subsequently by two of the numerous admirers of the work. In alternation with this undertaking, two other subjects occupied my father; one, another reminiscence of his tour to Boulogne, in the shape of a French sea-piece; the other, a third in the new series of cottage scenes, of which “The Venturesome Robin” and “Rustic Civility” had formed the first and second, called, “The Stray Kitten.” This picture was twice afterwards repeated on commission, a line engraving from it being also published by Mr. Alderman Moon.

Wilkie — whose temporary attendance as Court Painter at Brighton, at the beginning of the new year, made him absent from the painter’s studio; did not however forget his usual interest in the projects and employments of his friend, and wrote as follows, to encourage and congratulate him. Mr. Collins’s reply has unfortunately, in this instance, not been found:

“To W. COLLINS, ESQ., R.A.

“Brighton, Feb. 14th, 1833.

“Dear Collins, — In case a continued silence might look as if I never thought of you and those about you during this protracted absence, I thus venture to break in on your unceasing labours, if only to assure you that I hope in a few days to interrupt them in another way, that I may have the pleasure of witnessing their successful result.

“I fancy how little I am doing and how much you have done since I saw you. For this year you will be strong with what you are getting up, while my year’s labour is divided out into so many beginnings, that I shall be hurried now with any one. I was gratified to hear a very favourable account of the appearance and impression made by your “Skittle-players” in the Gallery. May not this lead to something? When little
‘bits’
are in such request, have standard works no chance?