Works of Charles and Mary Lamb. VI-VII. Letters
Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt, 2 October 1811
I cannot help accompanying my sister’s congratulations
to Sarah with some of my own to you on
this happy occasion of a man child being
born—
Delighted Fancy already sees him some future rich alderman
or opulent merchant; painting perhaps a little in his leisure hours for
amusement like the late H. Bunbury, Esq.
Pray, are the Winterslow Estates entailed? I am afraid lest
the young dog when he grows up should cut down the woods, and leave no groves
for widows to take their lonesome solace in. The Wem Estate of course can only
devolve on him, in case of your brother leaving no male issue.
Well, my blessing and heaven’s be upon him, and make
him like his father, with something a better temper and a smoother head of
hair, and then all the men and women must love him.
Martin and the Card-boys join in
congratulations. Love to Sarah. Sorry we are not within Caudle-shot.
If the widow be
assistant on this notable occasion, give our due respects and kind
remembrances to her.
Henry William Bunbury (1750-1811)
English artist, the wealthy son of Sir William Bunbury, fifth baronet; he was a friend of
Goldsmith, Johnson, and Reynolds.
Martin Charles Burney (1788-1852)
The son of Admiral James Burney and nephew of Fanny Burney; he was a lawyer on the
western circuit, and a friend of Leigh Hunt, the Lambs, and Hazlitts.
Sarah Hazlitt [née Stoddart] (1774-1840)
The daughter of John Stoddart (1742-1803), lieutenant in the Royal Navy; she married
William Hazlitt in 1808 and was divorced in 1822.
William Hazlitt Jr. (1811-1893)
The son of the critic and father of the bibliographer William Carew Hazlitt; he was
registrar of the London court of bankruptcy and editor of his father's works.
Sarah Stoddart [née Brown] (d. 1811)
The wife of naval lieutenant John Stoddart (1742-1803) and mother of the writer Sir John
Stoddart; in her later years she suffered from insanity.
