arly August, 1831.]

Dear M.--The _R.A_. here memorised was George Dawe, whom I knew well and
heard many anecdotes of, from DANIELS and WESTALL, at H. Rogers's--_to
each of them_ it will be well to send a Mag. in my name. It will fly
like wild fire among the R. Academicians and artists. Could you get hold
of Proctor--his chambers are in Lincoln's Inn at Montagu's--or of Janus
Weathercock?--both of their _prose_ is capital. Don't encourage poetry.
The Peter's Net does not intend funny things only. All is fish. And
leave out the sickening Elia at the end. Then it may comprise letters
and characters addrest to Peter--but a signature forces it to be all
characteristic of the one man Elia, or the one man Peter, which cramped
me formerly. I have agreed _not_ for my sister to know the subjects I
chuse till the Mag. comes out; so beware of speaking of 'em, or writing
about 'em, save generally. Be particular about this warning. Can't you
drop in some afternoon, and take a bed?

The _Athenaeum_ has been hoaxed with some exquisite poetry that was 2 or
3 months ago in Hone's Book. I like your 1st No. capitally. But is it
not small? Come and see us, week day if possible. C.L.

[Moxon had just acquired _The Englishman's Magazine_ and Lamb
contributed to the September number his "Recollections of a Late Royal
Academician," George Dawe (see Vol. I. of this edition), under the
general title "Peter's Net." Daniels may have been Thomas or William
Daniell, both landscape painters. Westall may have been Richard Westall,
the historical painter, or William Westall, the topographical painter.
H. Rogers was Henry Rogers, brother of the poet.

"The _Athenaeum_ has been hoaxed." The exquisite poetry was FitzGerald's
"Meadows in Spring" (see next letter).]

LETTER 535

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[P.M. Aug. 5, 1831.]

Send, or bring me, Hone's No. for August.

Hunt is a fool, and his critics----The anecdotes of E. and of G.D. are
substantially true. What does Elia (or Peter) care for dates?

That _is_ the poem I mean. I do not know who wrote it, but is in Hone's
book as far back as April.

Tis a poem I envy--_that_ & Montgomery's Last Man (nothing else of his).
I envy the writers, because I feel I could have done something like it.
S---- is a coxcomb. W---- is a ---- & a great Poet. L.

[Hone was now editing his _Year Book_. Under the date April 30 had
appeared Edward FitzGerald's poem, "The Mea