LXXXVII To Bernard Barton
April 6, 1825.
Dear B.B.,—My spirits are so tumultuary with the novelty of my recent emancipation that I have scarce steadiness of hand, much more mind, to compose a letter. I am free, B.B.,—free as air!
“The little bird that wings the sky
Knows no such liberty.” [1]
I was set free on Tuesday in last week at four
o’clock. I came home forever!
I have been describing my feelings as well as I can to Wordsworth in a long letter, and don’t care to repeat. Take it, briefly, that for a few days I was painfully oppressed by so mighty a change; but it is becoming daily more natural to me. I went and sat among ’em all at my old thirty-three-years’ desk yester-morning; and, deuce take me, if I had not yearnings at leaving all my old pen-and-ink fellows, merry, sociable lads,—at leaving them in the lurch, fag, fag, fag! The comparison of my own superior felicity gave me anything but pleasure.
B.B., I would not serve another seven years for seven hundred thousand pounds! I have got £441 net for life, sanctioned by Act of Parliament, with a provision for Mary if she survives me. I will live another fifty years; or if I live but ten, they will be thirty, reckoning the quantity of real time in them,—i.e., the time that is a man’s own, Tell me how you like “Barbara S.;”2 will it be received in atonement for the foolish “Vision”—I mean by the lady? A propos, I never saw Mrs. Crawford in my life; nevertheless, it’s all true of somebody.
Address me, in future, Colebrooke Cottage, Islington, I am really nervous (but that will wear off), so take this brief announcement.
C.L
Yours truly, [1] “The birds that wanton in the air Know no such liberty.” LOVELACE.
Notes
2 The Elia essay. Fanny Kelly was the original of “Barbara S.”