The following are extracts from letters of Wilkinson to Miss Mary Leadbeater of Ballintore:--"Yanwath, 15. 2. 1801.--I had lately a young Poet seeing me that sprang originally from the next village. He has left the College, turned his back on all preferment, and settled down contentedly among our Lakes, with his Sister and his Muse. He ... writes in what he conceives to be the language of Nature in opposition to the finery of our present poetry. He has published two volumes of Poems, mostly of the same character. His name is William Wordsworth." In a letter, dated 29. 1. 1809, the following occurs:--"Thou hast wished to have W. Wordsworth's Lines on my Spade, which I shall transcribe thee. I had promised Lord Lonsdale to take him to Lowther, when he came to see me, but when we arrived he was gone to shoot moor-game with Judge Sutton. William and I then returned, and wrought together at a walk I was then forming, which gave birth to his Verses." The expression "sprang from the next village" might not be intended to mean that he was born there; or, if it did, the fact that Wordsworth's mother was a native of Penrith, and his own visits to that town, might account for the mistake of one who had made no minute enquiry as to the poet's birthplace. He was born at Cockermouth. Compare an interesting account of Thomas Wilkinson, by Mary Carr, reprinted from the _Friends' Quarterly Examiner_, 1882.--ED. VARIANTS: [1] 1837. ... toiling ... 1807. [2] 1827. Health, quiet, meekness, ardour, hope secure, 1807. [3] 1815. ... hath ... 1807. [4] 1815. More noble than the noblest Warrior's sword. 1807. [5] 1837. With Thee he will not dread a toilsome day, His powerful Servant, his inspiring Mate! 1807. [6] 1837. Thee a surviving soul shall consecrate. 1807. [7] 1815. ... usefulness ... 1807. The text of 1832 resumes that of 1807, but the edition of 1837 returns to the final text of 1815. [8] 1837. ... and will adorn 1807. FOOTNOTES: [A] In a letter to Wilkinson, accompanying a copy of these verses, which Wordsworth sent from Coleorton, in November 1806, he wrote: "They are supposed to have been composed that afternoon when you and I were labouring together in your pleasure-ground." I think that Professor Dowden is right in supposing that they were written in 1806.--ED. CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY WARRIOR Composed 1806.--Published 1807