Beschreibung:

HAZLITT, William (1778-1830). Autograph letter signed ('W.H.') to Peter George Patmore ('Dear P.'), Scarborough, 30 May 1822 , explaining in a frenzied manner that he is completely beside himself with grief, having been rejected by Sarah Walker, his greatest love. 2 pages, 4to , with address panel in centre of second page, written on the blank conjugate leaf of a 2-page letter from Benjamin Robert Haydon to Hazlitt, 28 May 1822 , regretting that his wife feels too ill to see him that evening and sending him two tickets for an exhibition of paintings at the Society of Arts. Hazlitt, having left London for Edinburgh on 28 May, is writing from Scarborough, where he stopped. The letter begins, 'What have I suffered since I parted with you? a raging gnawing fire in my hearty & in my brain that I thought would drive me mad ... Mocked, mocked by her in whom I placed my hope, & withering, writhing in misery & despair, caused by one who hardens herself against me. I wished for courage to throw myself into the waters, but I could not even do that ... The people even take notice of my dumb despair & pity me'. Hazlitt had fallen for Sarah Walker, the daughter of his landlord at Southampton Buildings in Chancery Lane, a love not reciprocated. He then compiled his Liber Amoris , compiled from his conversations and his letters to Patmore and Knowles. This includes a version of the present letter [Letter VI], with considerable differences, reprinted in The Letters of William Hazlitt , ed. H.M.Sikes, no.112. In its present form the letter is unpublished.