ABSTRACT
As to the Excursion I shall not attempt to express the delight the instruction & the enthusiasm with which it inspires me – the feeling is universal or will shortly be so – I verily think the vision near the end of the 2d
book3 is the fairest flower of British Poesy – it perfectly fascinates me – Pray tell me if it was not suggested by that marvellous effect we saw in returning thro Patterdale amongst the mountains of Ulswater [sic] – Into every crevice & hollow of the hills the clouds poured in profusion, & no shape regular or fantastic, no colour brilliant or solemn, no light splendid or awful, was omitted by the setting sun in that glorious display – I remember you were struck dumb for an hour at least, & then you told me words might do little but not much in describing it – you have proved yourself mistaken –
d. Lady Beaumont to Wordsworth, 17 January 1815
With fingers half-frozen, and a head benumbed with cold, I cannot help writing to you, if only to rectify a mistake I made in my last letter – in speaking of the price of the Excursion as a reason for the tardiness of the Sale, when upon looking over the numerous works now teeming from the press, whether Novel, or Epic, 2 guineas is the established price.
