Wordsworth was nominated Poet Laureate after the death of Southey in March 1843.
Orion, the early editions of which were sold at a farthing, in accordance with a fancy of the author. Miss Barrett reviewed it in the Athenaum (July 1843).
This refers to the competition for the cartoons to be painted in the Houses of Parliament, in which Haydon was unsuccessful. The disappointment was the greater, inasmuch as the scheme for decorating the building with historical pictures was mainly due to his initiative.