——:o:——
WORDSWORTH AS POET LAUREATE.
On the death of Robert Southey, in 1843, the appointment of Poet Laureate was offered to Wordsworth. At first he declined on the plea that he was too far advanced in life to undertake the duties of the office; thereupon Sir Robert Peel wrote:—“Do not 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.” Thus pressed, Wordsworth accepted the title and the pension, he being already in the receipt of a handsome annuity from the Government. The warrant was dated April 6, 1843, and he retained the office till his death in 1850. He wrote a sonnet on the occasion of his appointment, which for vanity and egotism is probably unparallelled in literature, but beyond this he paid little further attention, either to the office, or its ancient duties.[79]
Mr. Wordsworth’s supposed Ode on the
Installation of H.R.H. Prince Albert at
Cambridge, June, 1847.
(Exclusive.)
I.
Sons of the Cam, awake!
Come, stir, ye sleeping elves;