ABSTRACT
I have received the little Bijou which you have done me the honour to send, & think the time you mention to have been employed in polishing it, has been well and most successfully bestowed – It is truly surprising how out of such simple materials you could have worked it to so brilliant an effect as it is indeed pétillant d’Esprit et de graces, and in my opinion is a jewel fit to adorn the front of any poet’s wreath –
The skiff excursion is much to my taste; and in an unworthy production which I hope some time or other to have the satisfaction of presenting to you, you will perceive I just launched one by way of experiment, tho’ I soon quitted it for a less dangerous vehicle – it is not exactly adapted for the voyage I had to undertake –
In so beautiful a Poem as ‘Peter Bell’ a preference of any particular passage seems almost an injustice to the rest, but I cannot omit to mention how much I was struck with –
Where deep & low the hamlets be Beneath their little patch of sky And little lot of stars:
and this
A primrose by a river’s brim A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more.
