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In the Special Collections of Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is an autograph unpublished letter1 by John Clare to his publisher, James Hessey, that includes three poems - the first, 'To XXXXX' i'Fair was thy bloom when first I met', Middle Period, III, p. 36 12), the second, 'On seeing a marble Copy of the Venus de Medici at the Seat of C. J.' i'Thou lovly shade of heavenly birth', Middle Period, III, pp. 477-783), and the third, untitled, beginning: 'I love to walk in spring by hedgrow sides' [Early Poems, II, pp. 528-294).
The letter and poems, all written at the same time, were part of the Honeyman gift of books and manuscripts to Lehigh University, PA, on 1 1 September 1959. We print this letter and its three poems courtesy of Special Collections, Lehigh University Library, and thank Lois Fischer Black, the Curator, and Ilhan Citak, Librarian, for their expert assistance and gracious hospitality. The present transcripts of this letter and these three poems were made by Eric Robinson, after Robert Heyes had made him aware of their existence in Pennsylvania. Letter and poems are written on a sheet of paper, (H) 32.5 cm ? (W) 40.5 cm, folded to 32.5 cm ? 20.25 cm, and watermarked DUSAUTOY d? CO./1819 with a figure of a lion rampant. It is interesting to observe that Clare is using a locally manufactured paper, made at Lyng, near East Dereham in Norfolk.5
JOHN CLARE'S LETTER AND POEMS
My dear Hessey
I have sent you now the whole of my rubish which I have scribbld latly they are not sent as good ones but for you to think as you please of & to act with as they deserve I fancy them fit for nothing but the fire d? if you think the same I shall not feel dis sap oint ed - I am this day clear of the world & care for nobody d? be d - d if I dont continue d? keep so for my own satisfaction as well as others - I surmise Mr Herbe[r]t6 to be an Overseer of a Parish & if by Craneology' or other exploring systems he has found out some poor8 Brats in his Workhouse to be near a...