Page:Lives of Poets-Laureate.djvu/425

Rh A year after his marriage, we find that Wordsworth left his wife and youthful first-born at Grasmere, and picking up Coleridge on the way, commenced a tour in Scotland. Wordsworth was a determined excursionist. His vagabond propensities were so strong, that Sir G. Beaumont, at his death, left him an annuity of £100 for the express purpose of expending it in an annual tour. He loved his own neighbourhood. Its scenes were as dear as they were familiar to him. But his love of the glories of Nature tempted him to extend his wanderings. In this tour in Scotland in 1803, he made the acquaintance, or we should more truly say the friendship, of Sir W. Scott; and at Keswick, on his return, he met for the first time Southey. Coleridge had parted from Wordsworth and his sister at Tarbet, after only fourteen days tour; but she and Wordsworth journeyed on through the most sublime and picturesque scenery of the north, and the numerous poems suggested by what met his gaze, were the outpourings of his happy heart, the merry music of joyous spirits, and a kind and genial nature. They reached Grasmere on the 25th of September, and Wordsworth, writing to Scott, says: "We had a delightful journey home, delightful weather, and a sweet country to travel through. We reached our little cottage in high spirits, and thankful to God for all His bounties. My wife and child were both well, and, as I need not say, we had all of us a happy meeting."

A dark cloud of gloom soon broke with terrible suddenness on this happy circle. Captain John Wordsworth, the affectionate and well-loved brother of the poet, was drowned in the wreck of the 'Abergavenny,' East Indiaman. The vessel, to which he had just been appointed, through the incompetency of a pilot, ran on the shambles off the Bill of Portland, and, when they got her off, sank while they were endeavouring to run her on to Weymouth sands.