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who is going out soon—so if you will let me have a few more lines, they will be in time. I am glad you got on so well with Mons'. le Curé. Is he a nice clergyman?— a great deal depends upon a cock'd hat and powdernot gunpowder, lord love us, but lady-meal, violetsmooth, dainty-scented, lilly-white, feather-soft, wigsbydressing, coat-collar-spoiling, whisker-reaching, pig-tailloving, swans-down-puffing, parson-sweetening powder. I shall call in passing at the Tottenham nursery and see if I can find some seasonable plants for you. That is the nearest place-or by our la'kin or lady kin, that is by the virgin Mary's kindred, is there not a twig-manufacturer in Walthamstow? Mr. and Mrs. Dilke are coming to dine with us to day. They will enjoy the country after Westminster. O there is nothing like fine weather, and health, and Books, and a fine country, and a contented Mind, and diligent habit of reading and thinking, and an amulet against the ennui-and, please heaven, a little claret wine cool out of a cellar a mile deep-with a few or a good many ratafia cakes-a rocky basin to bathe in, a strawberry bed to say your prayers to Flora in, a pad nag to go you ten miles or so; two or three sensible people to chat with; two or three spiteful folkes to spar with; two or three odd fishes to laugh at and two or three numskul[1]s to argue with-instead of using dumb bells on a rainy day

Two or three Posies

With two or three simples

Two or three Noses

With two or three pimples

Two or three wise men

And two or three ninny's

Two or three purses

And two or three guineas

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Two or three Miles

To two or three towns

Two or three pegs

For two or three bonnets

Two or three dove eggs

To hatch into sonnets—

Good bye I've an appointment-can't stop pon word - good bye- now dont get up-open the door myself-good bye-see ye Monday J. K.

1 The omission of Mrs. Abbey's name was probably more for the sake of pointing the joke than anything else: he writes freely enough of her in other letters to his sister.

My dear Fanny,

XCIV.

To FANNY KEATS.

Rd. Abbey's Esq.,

Walthamstow.

[Postmark, Hampstead, 13 May 1819.]

I have a Letter from George at last-and it contains, considering all things, good news-I have been with it to day to Mrs. Wylie's, with whom I have left it. I shall have it again as soon as possible and then I will walk over and read it to you. They are quite well and settled tolerably in comfort after a great deal of fatigue and harrass. They had the good chance to meet at Louisville with a Schoolfellow of ours. You may expect me within three days. I am writing to night several notes concerning this to many of my friends.' Good night! god bless you.

John Keats

1 As far as I am aware, this is the only one of the "several notes" which has as yet come to the surface; but it is quite likely that others may be extant, and will be brought to light sooner or later.

My dear Fanny,

XCV.

To FANNY KEATS.

Rd. Abbey's Esq.,

Walthamstow.

[Postmark, Hampstead, 26 May 1819.]

I have been looking for a fine day to pass at Walthamstow there has not been one Morning (except Sunday and then I was obliged to stay at home) that I could depend upon. I have I am sorry to say had an accident with the Letter-I sent it to Haslam and he returned it torn into a thousand pieces.' So I shall be obliged to tell you all I can remember from Memory. You would have heard from me before this but that I was in continual expectation of a fine Morning-I want also to speak to you concerning myself. Mind I do not purpose to quit England, as George [h]as done; but I am afraid I shall be forced to take a voyage or two. However we will not think of that for some Months. Should it be a fine morning tomorrow you will see me. Your affectionate Brother

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1 I have not come upon anything explanatory of the reasons which Mr. William Haslam may have had for tearing "into a thousand pieces" the letter entrusted to him by his friend.

XCVI.

To FANNY KEATS.

R. Abbey's Esq.,
Walthamstow.

My dear Fanny,

Wentworth Place.

[Postmark, 9 June 1819.]

I shall be with you next monday at the farthest. I could not keep my promise of seeing you again in a week because I am in so unsettled a state of mind about what I am to do—I have given up the Idea of the Indiaman1; I cannot resolve to give up my favorite studies: so I purpose to retire into the Country and set my Mind at work once more. A Friend of Mine who has an ill state of health called on me yesterday and proposed to spend a little time with him at the back of the Isle of Wight where he said we might live very cheaply. I agreed to his proposal. I have taken a great dislike to Town-I never go there-some one is always calling on me and as we have spare beds they often stop a couple of days. I have written lately to some acquaintances in Devonshire concerning a cheap Lodging and they have been very kind in letting me know all I wanted. They have described a pleasant place which I think I shall eventually retire to. How came you on with my young Master Yorkshire Man? Did not Mrs. A. sport her

1 He had an idea of taking an appointment as surgeon on board a vessel trading to the East Indies—an idea which was revived later on: see the last letter which he wrote to Mr. Dilke before leaving for Italy.

* This must of course have been James Rice, of whose ill health when in the Isle of Wight with him Keats wrote later on.

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