UAB

English

William Hone to Charles Behnes, 7 May, 1829

[1780-1818] - [1818-1824] - [1825-1832] - [1832-1842] - Hone Correspondence

William Hone to Charles Behnes, 7 May, 1829. 1-TEI-

Newington Green
7 May 1829
Dear Charley
Come hither on Sunday, and see2
my wife and the children, the garden and me.
Don't fail to come early — you'll sniff the fresh breeze—
after 6 in the morning, as soon as you please.
We've brown bread and mutton, at 1, for our feeding
we've fruit trees in blossom, & rabbits a-breeding.
Come, and make a long day—
I say, Come!— if you don't!
I'll not hear of a "cann't"
Which is cant & means won't.
So come, my dear Charley — and let's have a talk —
I want one especially — and we can walk
or sit down, as we please, within doors our out,
and pull our opinions or old books about.
But I wish, above all, to chat on affairs
of importance to us, and becoming our years.
which, you know, are by no means so long as we wish.
And as, really, I'm serious, pray dont you cry pish!
but Come.
And, now mind, if you haven't a coat,
why, just come without one. So drop me a note
And say you will — if you don't I shall groan
Oh Charley! — you Jack-bottom Charley, O!
Hone3

[addressed:]
For
Charles Behnes Esq.

Dean Street

Soho

Notes
1
Hone Collection, Adelphi University, Series 1A, Box 1, Folder 1.[return]
2
Given the layout of Hone's text in the opening words of the letter, it appears that he may have started his note in ordinary prose and then, perhaps noticing the rhythm, quickly fell into verse.[return]
3
Note that Hone's name makes up the last rhyme in his verse letter. [return]
William Hone. Date: 2014-12-03