Recollections of Writers
Leigh Hunt to Mary Cowden Clarke, 11 July [1830?]
Wednesday, July 11.
Dear Novella,—Many thanks for your
lemons, and many more for your inquiries and kind attentions. We have had some
heart-tugging work since I saw Novello in
the streets. Both Mary and baby have been in
danger, the former for a short time, the latter moaning for two nights and a day
with the anguish of acute inflammatory fever:—but you know all this sort of
trouble, and more: nor would I say anything to bring any more tears into your eyes,
but that I owe you a true account how we go on; and even tears are good things in
this world, after a time:—they help to melt us all into one heart. God bless
you and all our friends. I hope to enjoy them again shortly, and still reckon
myself getting better.
Your affectionate friend,
P.S.—The danger is now over.
Mary Victoria Cowden Clarke [née Novello] (1809-1898)
The daughter of the musician Vincent Novello, she married Charles Cowden Clarke in 1828
and wrote works on Shakespeare, including
The Complete Concordance to
Shakespeare (1845).
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.
Mary Sabilla Novello [née Hehl] (1789-1854)
English author who married Vincent Novello in 1808 and had a family of eleven children,
among them Mary Cowden Clarke.
Vincent Novello (1781-1861)
English music publisher and friend of Charles Lamb, Leigh Hunt, and Percy Bysshe
Shelley.
