of criticism which he had at first experienced. If Oxford delighted to honour him, Edinburgh might continue to sneer. But we must not forget that here he had a devoted admirer in the gifted and eloquent Professor Wilson, who in "Blackwood's Magazine," did all that in him lay to attract public attention to the beauties of Wordsworth's poetry.
In the year after our Poet's ovation at Oxford, Southey died. Her Majesty at once signified her cordial approval of the proposal of the Lord Chamberlain, Earl de la Warr, that the laurel should be offered to the Bard of Rydal. Wordsworth expressed his gratitude for the Royal favour, but respectfully declined the honour. He writes to the Lord Chamberlain: "The appointment, I feel, however, imposes duties which, far advanced in life as I am, I cannot venture to undertake, and therefore must beg to decline the acceptance of an offer which I shall always remember with no unbecoming pride. Her Majesty will not, I trust, disapprove of a determination forced upon me by reflections which it is impossible for me to set aside."
The office was again pressed on him, with the assurance that it might be considered in his case as a sinecure. He also received from the late Sir Robert Peel a very kind letter, urging him to accept it. "Do not," writes Sir Robert from his place in the House of Commons, "be deterred by the fear of any obligations which the appointment may be supposed to imply. I will undertake that you shall have nothing required from you. But as the Queen can select for this honourable appointment no one whose claims for respect and honour, on account of eminence as a poet, can be placed in competition with yours, I trust you will not longer hesitate to accept it." Wordsworth replied gratefully to Sir Robert and the Lord Chamberlain, and upon these conditions, became the successor of Southey.
Two years after his appointment, in writing to his
