William Jerdan

“ Thus it befel with my tuition of L. E. L. Her poetic emotions and aspirations were intense, usurping in fact almost every other function of the brain; and the assistance I could give her in the ardent pursuit produced an influence not readily to be conceived under other circumstances or upon a less imaginative nature. The result was a grateful and devoted attachment; all phases of which demonstrate and illume the origin of her productions. Critics and biographers may guess, and speculate, and expatiate for ever; but without this master-key they will make nothing of their reveries. ”

“ The soirées are where I should have met all the French littérateurs; but none are being given just now. It is like London in the month of September. Miss Gibbon is going to her sister's next week; and then I really shall not know what to do with myself. I can perfectly understand Paris being delightful, but it must be under other circumstances. I like the manners of the people very much; the servants even have a way of expressing themselves—tout à fait particulier. We have delightful weather, not too hot. ”

“ Yesterday I had a visit from Monsieur and Madame Roget Collard, and a very pleasant visit it was. I have received so much kindness and attention from Monsieur Merimée; he is very amusing, speaks English (a great fault in my eyes) like a native, and tells you all sorts of anecdotes in the most unscrupulous fashion. I think a young man called A. Fontanez, more realises my beau ideal of a young French poet than any one that I have seen, being pale, silent, réveur, with a sort, too, of enthusiasm. I like Monsieur Odillon Barrot the best ”

“ A slight acquaintance grew out of neighbourhood; and I was surprised one day by an intimation from her mother that Letitia was addicted to poetical composition, and asking me to peruse a few of her efforts and say what I thought of them. I read, and was exceedingly struck by these juvenile productions—crude and inaccurate, as might be anticipated, in style, but containing ideas so original and extraordinary, that I found it impossible to believe they emanated from the apparent romp, and singular contradiction of the hoop and volume. ”

“ To my mind they combine the wonderfully mixed qualities of every-day sense and observation, the peculiarities of sex, the love of nature and the beautiful in all things, the playfulness of fancy, and the innate charm of genius. ”

“ Whilst I state an interesting fact absolutely necessary for the true understanding of a destiny and vein of poetry, which at once attracted extraordinary attention, and will for ever stir responsive chords in human hearts, I would fain disarm criticism of its possible power to misinterpret what I have stated into personal application. Shakespeare, even in his Faery Land, drew exquisitely from the deepest fountains of Nature, and exhibited her illusions in the reflected enchantments of Oberon; but that She is far more potent than he. ”

“ I am thinking of subscribing to a French library. One feels the want of a gentleman here very much. Poor Miss Turin is still ill. Miss Gibbon and I, even now, daily plan our return; but she cannot leave Paris till after an event, which is, however, daily expected. The dinners are exquisite. I wish, instead of a stupid letter, I could send you some of the plats. We have to use what is quite a rational phrase—such a gentil femme de chambre. You will perceive from the paper on which I write that I have at least made one purchase in Paris. ”

“ Love and fear are the greatest principles of human existence. If you owed my letter of yesterday to the first of these, you owe that of to-day to the last. What, in the name of all that is dreadful in the way of postage, could induce you to put the 'Gazette' in your letter? ”

“ We have not an idea of French literature in England. As far as I can judge, it is full of novelty, vivid conceptions, and, I must say, genius, but what we should call blasphemous and indelicate to the last degree. If my money holds out I shall buy several works and translate them at home, but I doubt being able to accomplish it; for though I have bought nothing but what was indispensable, such as gloves, shoes, paper, &c, I have little more left than will bring me home. The dust here is something not to be told; before you have walked a hundred yards your feet are of a whitish brown. ”

“ My first recollection of the future poetess is that of a plump girl, grown enough to be almost mistaken for a woman, bowling a hoop round the walks, with the hoop-stick in one hand and a book in the other, reading as she ran, and as well as she could manage both exercise and instruction at the same time. ”

“ Jerdan, from the very great politeness the family have at all times received, ventures to intrude the enclosed lines. They are written by a young friend, for whom Miss L. feels most anxious solicitude. If Mr. Jerdan will, therefore, give his candid opinion whether he considers any taste or genius is expressed, or, on the contrary, if he should only call it a waste of time from which no benefit can arise. Miss L. feels the liberty she is taking; trusts Mr. Jerdan will believe it is an obligation never to be forgotten. ”

“ All say that I speak French with an étonnante facilité, and avec un grace tout à fait particulière. I am going to-day to Madame Recamier with Madame Tastu, to be presented to Chateaubriand. If you go to Boulogne try and find out Monsieur Henri Heine, who is now staying there. He is, to my taste, the wittiest and most original person that I have seen: he is a German.
"The eating here is delicious; but I have no appetite. I am obliged to force a little down: ice is the only thing that I enjoy. The people appear to take the greatest interest in English politics. ”

“ It is a disappointment being so comfortable; but there is such a pretty little French femme de chambre, with such a high neck, such short petticoats, and ancles so neatly rounded. I find I can make myself pretty well understood, and understand perfectly. We could not get places to go to Paris till Sunday. Miss Turin wanted to have taken the whole coupé, which would have been very comfortable; but a gentleman has already one place, and it is scarcely worth while waiting till Tuesday. ”

“ Miss Gibbon I find such a pleasant companion; and ladies can walk in any part of Paris without the least molestation. I really know not what I should have done without her. We walked together till nearly ten o'clock in the Tuileries last night; such a gay-looking crowd. ”

“ Mercy on the French carriages and horses; they make such a clatter; drive far more with their tongues than the reins. We have delicious dinners, if I could but eat, which at present is an impossibility. I am still a horrid figure with my sea and sunburning. Miss Gibbon, a very pretty Scotch girl, a cousin of Miss Turin's, is staying with us, very agreeable to me, for she is so kind, and quite au fait at manners, customs, language, &c. I value a companion now. Poor Miss Turin is quite confined to her bed; but sends her love to you. I hope that my next letter will be more amusing ”

“ The medium through which the Poet looks is not the atmosphere of reason, or of our accustomed day and night. Reason is overpowered by imagination; the visible objects of the clear day are electrically lighted with halos of splendour ”

“ Nothing could exceed the beauty—the sea of that peculiar green, like no colour that I ever saw before—a sky of a soft grey blue, without a tint—a rich warmth rather than a tint—upon the west—the air so clear and soft—and such a moon ”

“ Fourthly, Miss Turin, though she has been here so often, knows nothing of the customs, &c. Her sole reason for coming to Paris is to see the dresses, shops, &c., and her idea of a delightful morning is shopping; also she has been and is so ill. Fifthly, one ought to be married; and sixthly, I wish myself at home again. If I had the opportunity, the time, and could procure the books, I am sure a most delightful series of articles might be written on French literature. ”

“ As for myself, I am a perfect horror. The sun has scorched my face to such a hideous degree—forehead, nose, and cheeks are all a 'lively crimson,' and swelled till I do not know myself in the glass. The bread is delicious, so is the wine ”

“ Conscious that your time is much occupied, I feel a great repugnance in intruding my present request; but Letitia's anxiety for your opinion will, I am afraid, make you consider us both very troublesome. Without your sanction she feels herself without a hope of success, and has no resolution to go on. ”

“ But the fair and the foul of the world must be met as the world is constituted; the fair with thankfulness and pleasure, the foul with endurance and regret. Much could I moralise on this tempting theme, but this is neither time nor place, and I hasten to resume my narrative. ”

“ Will you tell Nanon* [2] that if she sends my letter to Gordon she must tell him that Mr. Douglas is not in Paris. I enclose a note I wrote yesterday. I am much better this evening, and have been for a short walk in the gardens of the Tuileries. How much I like the avenues. They were so crowded, the people looking so gay; but Paris is very empty—and it is unfortunate that Mrs. Fagan is just on the point of being confined, as they would have been such pleasant escorts. It is dreadfully hot. ”

“ The Fate of Genius, the title of one of her own works, was the unhappy fate of L. E. L.
To me the return of services was great. Within a little time after the appearance of her poetical productions in the "Literary Gazette," she began to exercise her talents upon publications in general literature, principally in the provinces of poetry, fiction, and romance ”

“ Still I was delighted to hear from you, and a most amusing letter it was. The 'Gazette' is a real treat. It is such an excellent one as to make me quite jealous. I have, however, given but a hurried glance, having lent it to Colonel Fagan. I am now pretty well recovered from the fatigue of my journey, and have this evening sent round my letters. ”

“ The weather is now awfully hot—it is a positive exertion to open one's eyes—yet I went yesterday to see the Museum d'Artillerie, and one or two old churches, but truly sightseeing is the most tiresome thing in the world. God never sent me into the world to use my hands, or my feet, or my eyes ”

“ Jerdan for the trouble he has kindly taken, and more so for the very friendly and candid opinion he has given on the subject. It will prove a source of much gratification to the youthful writer that a man of Mr. Jerdan's acknowledged talent should allow them the smallest merit; at the same time it will prove a strong inducement for further improvement, endeavouring to avoid those errors in each branch his kindness has pointed out. ”

“ I would sooner have a morning visit from an amusing person than see the Tuileries or the Louvre ten times over. One ridiculous misfortune is continually befalling me; I am always falling down, the parquet, i.e. the floor, is so slippery, and I am never very steady on my feet. I really thought I had broken my arm yesterday. I am very anxious about getting home. Miss Gibbon and I were to have returned together, but as her sister is not yet recovered she is obliged to wait. I have settled to stay one fortnight from to-day, Sunday, with Miss Turin, in hopes of Mrs. ”

“ He said, 'Mademoiselle donc a beaucoup couru les boutiques?' 'Mais non.' 'A-t-elle été au Jardin des Plantes?' 'Mais non.' 'Avez vous été à l'opéra, aux théâtres? ' 'Mais non.' 'Peut-être Mademoiselle aime la promenade?' 'Mais non.' 'A-t-elle donc apporté beaucoup de livres, ou peut-être elle écrit?' 'Mais non.' At last, in seeming despair, he exclaimed, 'Mais Mademoiselle, qu'est que ce donc, qu'elle a fait?' 'Mais—mais—j'ai regardé par la fenêtre.' Was there ever anything si bête? but I really could think of nothing else. I am enchanted with Madame Tastu ”

“ I fear I shall not be able to manage going to Versailles. I could not go by myself, and Miss Turin has not only seen it often, but is really so ill that she would not get through the day. I have at last obtained Captain M* * *'s letter ; nothing can be kinder, but there is nothing in it of any use. The misfortune is, that there really is scarcely anyone in Paris. ⁠"Yours most truly,
⁠"L. E. L."
My last quotation affords an idea of that feature of character which is often painted in her poetry ”

“ Miss Montgomery leaves Paris to-morrow, and so write I must. I am quite surprised that I should have so little to tell you; but really I have nothing, as ill-luck would have it. I went to call on Madame Tastu, from whom I received a charming note, and while I was out Monsieur Sainte Beuve and Monsieur Odillon Barrot called; however, the latter wrote to me offering his services as cicerone, &c, and I expect him this morning. M. Heine called yesterday; a most pleasant person. ”