JWC-TW [TWO], [3 and 6 June]. Pbd: Amy Woolner, Thomas Woolner, Sculptor and Poet (1917) 150. Quot: Wilson, Carlyle 5:308. Dated by Woolner's letter to Emily Tennyson, 7 June, enclosing JWC's letter (see below).

1. Isle of Wight, where the Tennysons had lived since 1853. Emily Tennyson had presumably invited JWC to Farringford through Woolner after he wrote to her reporting on JWC's health; he first wrote, 11 March: “I went and saw the immortal Thomas and his wife the other evening: I am happy to say she is getting thro' this winter far better than she did the last. … He—the grim one—was almost pleased for he has nearly completed his 2 first Vols. of Frederick” (Woolner 145). But he then reported, 2 April: “I called and saw Mrs. Carlyle and am sorry to say that she looks most dreadfully ill: she had got through the winter very well until two warm days ago when she was tempted by the genial air to go out of doors for ten minutes each day and doing so gave her fresh cold. She feels it irksome to remain in so long having been shut up for twelve weeks: she looks worn and sad, I did not see the grim man, but he is I believe pretty well and hard at work bringing his first 2 vols. of Frederick to a close” (Woolner 146–47).

2. Woolner wrote to Emily Tennyson, 7 June, apologizing for not having written sooner; he had been waiting for JWC's answer to the invitation to Farringford, going to Chelsea twice unsuccessfully; he enclosed JWC's refusal but asked: “[P]lease send it back for I never like to destroy her letters—unless, of course, you wish to keep it. You will see the mighty man of genius is not so easily managed as a pet bird. I think if he could see his wife's weak state so keenly as he can spiritual truths, he would not let his plans interfere with her little projects for health-seeking. The last two years have made sad havoc in her constitution” (Woolner 148–49).

3. Cf. Wordsworth, “Composed upon Westminster Bridge,” line 12.

4. See 235.

5. For Ruskin on the perspective of A Chelsea Interior, see JWC to MR, [19 Nov. 1857]; for Tait's defense of his perspective, see JWC to MR, 29 March.

6. Presumably JWC's mistake after finding her Thursday letter in her pocket, rather than a mistranscription.