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INTRODUCTION

Wordsworth's Guide to the Lakes was first published in 1810, as an anonymous introduction to a large folio volume entitled:

Select Views in | Cumberland, | Westmoreland, | and | Lancashire. | by the Rev. Joseph Wilkinson,1 Rector of East and West Wretham, in the county of Norfolk, and Chaplain to the Marquis of Huntly. London: | Published, for the Rev. Joseph Wilkinson, by R. Ackermann, at his Repository of Arts, 101, Strand. | 1810. |

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This work was dedicated, not without pomposity, 'to the Right Hon. Thos. Wallace, M.P. etc. etc. etc. .. to whose retentive memory and just discrimination' the artist appealed with some confidence', believing that his 'sketches had caught not only the general features, but the animation and the spirit of the scenery. . . of the most picturesque part of the North'. But this confidence was hardly justified; and the drawings, which are both inaccurate and lifeless, need no other comment than

This Mr. Wilkinson, a clergyman, should not be confused with Wordsworth's friend Thomas Wilkinson, the Quaker. Cf. note, p. 184.

that which Wordsworth passed upon them in his letter to Lady Beaumont :

"The drawings, or etchings, or whatever they may be called, are, I know, such as to you and Sir George must be intolerable. You will receive from them that sort of disgust which I do from bad poetry, a disgust which can never be felt in its full strength but by those who are practised in an art, as well as amateurs of it. I took Sir George's subscription as a kindness done to myself; and Wilkinson, though not superabundant in good sense, told me that he saw it in that light. I do however sincerely hope that the author and his wife may be spared the mortification of having them condemned severely by acknowledged judges. They will please many who in all the arts are most taken with what is worthless.' (May 10, 1810.)

Naturally enough, Wordsworth felt that his essay was ill-mated, and desired that it should appear in a form more likely to meet the eyes of sympathetic and intelligent readers. Accordingly, ten years later, it was republished with slight alterations in an octavo volume:

The River Duddon, | A Series of | Sonnets: | Vaudracour & Julia: | and | Other Poems. | To which is annexed, | A Topographical Description | Of the Country of the Lakes, | In the North of England. By William Wordsworth. | London: | Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row, | 1820.

Here the essay attracted considerable attention, and two years afterwards made its first independent appearance as a 12mo volume with pp. i-iv of title and contents, 1-156 of text, and a map of the district facing the title-page:

A Description | of the | Scenery of the Lakes | in | The North of England. | Third Edition, | (now first published separately) | With Additions, | and Illustrative Remarks upon the Scenery of the Alps. | By William Wordsworth. | London | Printed for | Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, | Paternoster-Row. | 1822.

In the next year, 1823, a fourth edition appeared, with the same title as before, but the text in 144 pages, and printed by A. and R. Spottiswoode, New-StreetSquare. This is not, as stated by Professor Knight, a mere reprint of the third edition; apart from many minor alterations of detail, which show a careful revision of the text, it is now considerably enlarged; and several passages noted by Prof. Knight as added in the fifth edition, made their first appearance in the fourth.

In 1835 was issued Wordsworth's final text: A Guide | Through the | District of the Lakes | in | The North of England, | with | A Description of the Scenery, etc. | For the Use of | Tourists and Residents. Fifth Edition, with considerable additions. By William Wordsworth. Kendal: | Published by Hudson and Nicholson, and in London by | Longman & Co., Moxon, and Whittaker & Co. | 1835.

This volume is also 12mo; Title and Contents,