Recollections of Writers
Leigh Hunt to Charles Cowden Clarke, 5 January 1814
Surrey Jail, January 5th, 1814.
Dear Sir,—. . . . The last time I saw your friend
P., he put into my hands a letter he had received from
your father at the time of our going to
prison—a letter full of kindness and cordiality. Pray will you give my
respects to Mr. Clarke, and tell him that had I been aware of
his good wishes towards my brother and
myself, I should have been anxious to say so before this; but I know the
differences of opinion that sometimes exist in families, and something like a
feeling to that effect kept me silent. I should quarrel with this rogue P. about it
if, in the first place, I could afford to quarrel with anybody, and if I did not
believe him to be one of the best-natured men in the world.
Should your father be
coming this way, I hope he will do me the pleasure of looking in. I should have
sent to your-![]()
| 192 | RECOLLECTIONS OF WRITERS | |
![]()
self some weeks ago, or at least before this, to
come and see how we enjoy your vegetables, only I was afraid that, like most people
at this season of the year, you might be involved in a round of family engagements
with aunts, cousins, and second cousins, and all the list at the end of the
Prayer-book. As soon as you can snatch a little leisure, pray let us see you. You
know our dinner-hour, and can hardly have to learn, at this time of day, how
sincerely I am, my dear sir, your friend and servant,
John Clarke (1757-1820)
Master of the dissenting academy at Enfield where Keats was a pupil; he was the father of
Charles Cowden Clarke (1787-1877).
John Hunt (1775-1848)
English printer and publisher, the elder brother of Leigh Hunt; he was the publisher of
The Examiner and
The Liberal, in
connection with which he was several times prosecuted for libel.
James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)
English poet, journalist, and man of letters; editor of
The
Examiner and
The Liberal; friend of Byron, Keats, and
Shelley.
