A superb Autograph Letter Signed ‘A.H.Hallam’, to his and Tennyson’s university friend, Charles Merivale, referring to his efforts to get Tennyson’s poems published in Moxon’s Magazine “the Englishman’s”, enlisting Merivale to visit Moxon in New Bond Street to effect this, discussing Tennant, with humorous comment on Merivale’s tour of Holland and Belgium, etc de HALLAM, Arthur

6 Breed’s Place, Hastings, postmarked Hastings 14 August 1831. Ovr 900 words on 4 pp., 7 x 4 inches, with the address panel, in good condition, two small tears at seal opening, removed from an album, entirely legible but with a typed transcript. Rare. This letter, known hitherto only from Audrey Tennyson’s transcript, is printed in The Letters of Arthur Henry Hallam (1981), letter number 119. Arthur Henry Hallam (1811 – 1833), English poet, best known as the subject of a major work, "In Memoriam", by his close friend and fellow poet Alfred Tennyson. Charles Merivale (1808 – 1893), historian and churchman. “What I have to say is this - Alfred, not intending to go into the Church, as the grandfather who has "patria potestas" over him wishes, and not having yet brought himself to cobble shoes for his livelihood, is desirous of putting his wits to profit, and begins to think himself a fool for kindly complying with the daily requests of Annuals without getting anything in return. Now the aforesaid Moxon is a very good sort of fellow, and knows what's what in poetry, which, you know, "is as high as metaphysic wit can fly" and wishes Alfred to send him poems for his mag. ... Charles Tennyson seems by his letters to be in high force: Frederic is in considerable danger of matrimony; Alfred in better spirits, I guess, than usual, and apparently not idle; but I have seen no fruits. I am as busy as I ever was in my life, writing, reading, learning, thinking, smoking, but spare of exercise and talk. These last don't do for summer; they destroy all coolness: cucumbers never talk or walk. Pray let me know how John Frere is; he was very ill, poor fellow, when I was in London, and though better when I left it, still not able to see me. Adieu. Keep thyself fat through the heats, and believe me, very faithfully thine, AH Hallam.”