shall write another to some place about fifty miles in ad

I had intended to delay seeing you till a Book which I am now publishing was out, expecting that to be the end of this week when I would have brought it to Walthamstow on receiving your Letter of course I set myself to come to town, but was not able, for just as I

(CXLII) This letter would seem to have been written the morning after the attack of blood-spitting to which it refers. If so, the attack in question had place, like the former attack, on a Thursday. The letter must have been delayed, for the postmark is as distinctly as possible that of the 26th of June 1820, which was a Monday. On the same day that Keats was writing to his sister, Friday the 23rd of June 1820, Mrs. Gisborne wrote thus in her private journal in my possession:"Yesterday evening we drank tea at Mr. Hunt's; we found him ill, as he had been attacked with a bilious fever, soon after we last saw him, and was not recovered. His nephew was with him; he appears grave, and very attentive to his uncle, listening to all his words, in silence. Mr. Keats was introduced to us the same evening; he had lately been ill also, and spoke but little; the Endymion was not mentioned, this person might not be its author; but on observing his countenance and his eyes I persuaded

was setting out yesterday morning a slight spitting of blood came on which returned rather more copiously at night. I have slept well and they tell me there is nothing material to fear. I will send my Book soon with a Letter which I have had from George who is with his family quite well.

myself that he was the very person. We talked of music, and of Italian and English singing; I mentioned that Farinelli had the art of taking breath imperceptibly, while he continued to hold one single note, alternately swelling out and diminishing the power of his voice like waves. Keats observed that this must in some degree be painful to the hearer, as when a diver descends into the hidden depths of the sea you feel an apprehension lest he may never rise again. These may not be his exact words as he spoke in a low tone." Probably the slight blood-spitting of the morning had made him careful; but to no effect. Mrs. Gisborne records later that she called at Hunt's the following Saturday and learnt from Mrs. Hunt that Hunt was worse and "that Mr. Keats was also ill in the house; he had burst a blood vessel the very night after we had seen him, and in order to be well attended, he had been moved from his lodgings in the neighbourhood, to Mr. Hunt's house." The "night after" must mean the night of the same day-22nd; and probably Keats moved from Wesleyan Place to Mortimer Terrace on the 23rd of June 1820.

CXLIII.

To FANNY KEATS.

My dear Fanny,

Rd. Abbey's Esq.,

Walthamstow.

Mortimer Terrace

Wednesday [Postmark, 6 July 1820.]

I have had no return of the spitting of blood, and for two or three days have been getting a little stronger. I have no hopes of an entire reestablishment of my health under some months of patience. My Physician tells me I must contrive to pass the Winter in Italy. This is all very unfortunate for us-we have no recourse but patience, which I am now practicing better than ever I thought it possible for me. I have this moment received a Letter from Mr. Brown, dated Dunvegan Castle, Island of Skye. He is very well in health and spirits. My new publication has been out for some days and I have directed a Copy to be bound for you, which you will receive shortly. No one can regret Mr. Hodgkinson's ill fortune I must own illness has not made such a Saint of me as to prevent my rejoiceing at his reverse. Keep yourself in as good hopes as possible; in case my illness

Between the date of this letter and the probable date of the next, Mrs. Gisborne made the following entry in her journal :-" Wednesday 12 July. We drank tea at Mr. Hunt's; I was much pained by the sight of poor Keats, under sentence of death from Dr. Lamb. He never spoke and looks emaciated." It was perhaps immediately upon this visit that Mr. Gisborne wrote to Shelley the communication which induced his letter to Keats dated the 27th of July 1820.

should continue an unreasonable time many of my friends would I trust for my sake do all in their power to console and amuse you, at the least word from me-You may depend upon it that in case my strength returns I will do all in my power to extricate you from the Abbies [sic]. Be above all things careful of your health which is the corner stone of all pleasure.

Your affectionate Brother

John

CXLIV.

To BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON.

My dear Haydon,

I am sorry to be obliged to try your patience a few more days when you will have the Book sent from Town. I am glad to hear you are in progress with

(CXLIV) This pathetic little note, the manuscript of which is preserved in Haydon's journal without date, superscription, or address, is almost certainly a reply to the two following letters. It is to be noted in passing that the picture referred to is recorded by Mr. F. W. Haydon to have been the Lazarus now in the National Gallery; and further that the words printed as my mind stand in the original as I mind. The first of Haydon's two letters appears to have been written in Keats's lodgings at Kentish Town towards the end of his stay in them; for beside the internal evidence that Haydon had come over and found his friend out, there is the fact that the latter is only addressed "John Keats Esq", and is written on a piece of the same paper that Keats was using-a different paper from what Haydon used:

My dear Keats,

I have been coming every day for months to see you, and determined this morning as I heard you were still ill or worse to walk over in spite of all pestering hindrances. I regret my very dear Keats to find by your landlady's account that you are very

another Picture. Go on. I am afraid I shall pop off just when my mind is able to run alone.

Your sincere friend

John Keats

poorly. I hope you have Darling's advice, on whose skill I have the greatest reliance—certainly I was as bad as anybody could be, and I have recovered, therefore, I hope, indeed I have no doubt, you will ultimately get round again, if you attend strictly to yourself, and avoid cold and night air.—I wish you would write me a line to say how you really are.—I have been sitting for some little time in your Lodgings, which are clean, airy, and quiet. I wish to God you were sitting with me—I am sorry to hear Hunt has been laid up too-take care of yourself my dear Keats.

Believe me

Ever most affectionately and sincerely

your friend

B. R. Haydon.

The second letter, which has the year-date very indistinctly written, but which must belong to 1820, as Keats's 1817 volume of poems was ready long before July 1817, gives us the precise locality of the lodgings, for it is addressed "John Keats Esq, Wesleyan Place, Kentish Town”—whence it is to be presumed Haydon did not know Keats had removed in the meantime for Mortimer Terrace :

My dear Keats,

When I called the other morning, I did not know your Poems were out, or I should have read them before I came in order to tell you my opinion-I have done so since, and really I cannot tell you how very highly I estimate them—they justify the assertions of all your Friends regarding your poetical powers. I can assure you, whatever you may do, you will not exceed my opinion of them. Have you done with Chapman's Homer? I want it very badly at this moment; will you let the bearer have it, as well as let me know how you are?

I am dear Keats

July 14 1820

ever yours

B. R. Haydon.