"R. HOPKINS, Cook of Trinity Hall and Caius College, begs leave to inform the Nobility, Gentry, &c. that he has now ready for Sale, BRAWN, BRAWN HEADS & CHEEKS.
"All orders will be thankfully received, and forwarded to any part of the kingdom."
Lamb stayed at 3 St. Mary's Passage, now rebuilt and occupied by Messrs.
Leach & Son (1911).
The letter contains Lamb's second expression of epicurean rapture: the first in praise of pig.
"As Wordsworth sings"—in the "Poet's Epitaph":—
He is retired as noontide dew,
Or fountain in a noon-day grove;
And you must love him, ere to you
He will seem worthy of your love.
"Praesens ut absens." Lamb enlarged upon the topic of gifts and giving many years later, in the Popular Fallacy "That we must not look a Gift Horse in the Mouth," 1826, and in his "Thoughts on Presents of Game," 1833.]
LETTER 131
CHARLES LAMB TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
[P.M. March 5, 1805.]