ABSTRACT
Hessey to Clare, 13 October 1823, Eg. 2246, foll. 245–6. This is an extremely important letter, for from it springs the final form of the poem. The long delay over The Shepherd’s Calendar suggests, amongst other things, a radical rethinking of Clare’s particular qualities as a poet. Hessey (see No. 11g) is referring to a batch of manuscript poems, intended for the projected new volume; he picks out some which he likes, such as ‘Daydream in Summer’ and continues:
