dows in Spring," with the
following introduction:--

These verses are in the old style; rather homely in expression; but I
honestly profess to stick more to the simplicity of the old poets than
the moderns, and to love the philosophical good humor of our old writers
more than the sickly melancholy of the Byronian wits. If my verses be
not good, they are good humored, and that is something.

The editor of _The Athenaeum_, in reprinting the poem, suggested
delicately that it was by Lamb. There is no such poem by James
Montgomery as "The Last Man." Campbell wrote a "Last Man," and so did
Hood, but I agree with Canon Ainger that what Lamb meant was
Montgomery's "Common Lot." I give the two poems in the Appendix as
illustrations of what Lamb envied.

"Hunt is a fool." In _The Tatler_ for August 1 Leigh Hunt had quoted
much of Lamb's essay on Elliston. I do not, however, find any adverse
criticism.

"E. and G.D." Lamb had written in the August number of _The Englishman's
Magazine_ his "Reminiscences of Elliston." Lamb's article on George Dawe
did not appear till the September number, but perhaps Moxon already had
the copy.]

LETTER 536

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

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

Dear M., Your Letter's contents pleased me. I am only afraid of taxing
you, yet I want a stimulus, or I think I should drag sadly. I shall keep
the monies in trust till I see you fairly over the next 1 January. Then
I shall look upon 'em as earned. Colburn shall be written to. No part of
yours gave me more pleasure (no, not the L,10, tho' you may grin) than
that you will revisit old Enfield, which I hope will be always a
pleasant idea to you.

Yours very faithfully

C.L.

[The letter's contents was presumably payment for Lamb's contribution to
_The Englishman's Magazine_.]

LETTER 537

CHARLES LAMB TO WILLIAM HAZLITT, JR.

[P.M. Sept. 13, 1831.]

Dear Wm--We have a sick house, Mrs. Westw'ds daughter in a fever, &
Grandaughter in the meazles, & it is better to see no company just now,
but in a week or two we shall be very glad to see you; come at a hazard
then, on a week day if you can, because Sundays are stuffd up with
friends on both parts of this great ill-mix'd family. Your second
letter, dated 3d Sept'r, came not till Sund'y & we staid at home in
even'g in expectation of seeing you. I have turned & twisted what you
ask'd me to do in my head, & am obliged to say I can not undertake
it--but as a compositio