So
Charlotte, as the eldest, resolved to write to Southey. I believe (from
an expression in a letter to be noticed hereafter), that she also
consulted Coleridge; but I have not met with any part of that
correspondence.
On December 29th, her letter to Southey was despatched; and from an
excitement not unnatural in a girl who has worked herself up to the pitch
of writing to a Poet Laureate and asking his opinion of her poems, she
used some high-flown expressions which, probably, gave him the idea that
she was a romantic young lady, unacquainted with the realities of life.
This, most likely, was the first of those adventurous letters that passed
through the little post-office of Haworth. Morning after morning of the
holidays slipped away, and there was no answer; the sisters had to leave
home, and Emily to return to her distasteful duties, without knowing even
whether Charlotte's letter had ever reached its destination.
Not dispirited, however, by the delay, Branwell determined to try a
similar venture, and addressed the following letter to Wordsworth. It
was given by the poet to Mr. Quillinan in 1850, after the name of Bronte
had become known and famous. I have no means of ascertaining what answer
was returned by Mr. Wordsworth; but that he considered the letter
remarkable may, I think, be inferred both from its preservation, and its
recurrence to his memory when the real name of Currer Bell was made known
to the public.
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