SD290. William Artaud to Wager Tayler
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 320 (in part).
Hope End, near Ledbury
July 21, 1818.
My dear Sir,
I hope that long ere this the complaint in your Eyelids has happily past away: for there is, in my opinion, no affliction more appalling to the imagination or so subduing to independence as deprivation of sight.
Mary and Stephen I presume are returned from Nottingham and, I hope, left their hospitable host and hostess in the full and healthful exercise of all their functions, for I am sure that nothing but a vigour amounting to something above the common lot of we sublunary beings can enable them to go through, satisfactorily to themselves, all the avocations which their establishment demands.
I am still at Hope End, but am very near the conclusion of that part of my labours which I can accomplish there. The final touches to the pictures must be given in London. From Hope End I retrog[r]ade to a Mr. Boddenham’s who resides at a Place called Botherwas about four miles from Hereford. What I have to do there I cannot at present tell. I shall probably make a short visit to Warwick, but not with a view to business, and then return to the Great City.
We have had a very warm contest both for the City of Hereford and its County, Mr. Robert Price the son of the gentleman I first visited has been elected one of the members for the County. Two Whigs and two Tories came in, so that the power of action against the present junta that is now grinding and oppressing John Bull is as far as regards this City and County neutralized. It is however believed that in the whole of the Elections the opposition will gain about twenty members. I presume John Wood has been very zealous in the cause of Captn. Maxwell. The toughness of many skulls have been put to the proof during the continuance [sic] of the ardent contests.
So Mr. Hutton has carried off his Cara Sposa to Leeds. I shall always be rejoiced to hear of any change in their situation which will contribute to their advantage. He is certainly a Man of genius and talents, and withall blessed with a very amiable and well poised temperament and she being of a gentle acquiescent nature I dare say they will glide through the remainder of their existence in a manner that some who are smarting under the pangs of disappointed ambition may envy.
Poor Willm. Artaud has not had much enjoyment of life since his marriage, but I hope something will yet turn up to give him a little comfort. Parke’s at Warwick—a dissolution of their partnership has taken place and those who lived in what is called the Marble Yard w[h]ere the Manufactory was established; are about to settle in London. Jealousies and misconceptions have produced the explosion. I very much regret [it on] every account, but as with all the parties, I must avoid offending either side with a caution which will be subversive of all the frankness of our former communications.
I have now to beg a favour of you to pay me last quarters Rent to Mr. Tod when you are called in the vicinity of London Street. It was due at Midsummer, or if any of the Woods call on you, you may give them the needful, and they will do it. The sum is Ten pounds ten shillings.
With kind and most affectionate remembrances to Mrs. Tayler, Mary, Richard and Stephen, I remain,
most truly yours,
Wm. Artaud.
Address: Mr. Wager Tayler / Dorset Place / Clapham Road / Surrey.
Publication: Connoisseur, 137 (1956), 181 (in part).
Source: Transcript in editors’ file.
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