rejoiced in a wide ill-plaited frill, and his very small, tight,
white neckcloth was hemmed to a fine point at the ends that formed
part of the little bow. His hair was black and sleek, but not
formal, and his face the gravest I ever saw, but indicating great
intellect, and resembling very much the portraits of King Charles I.
Mr. Coleridge was very anxious about his _pet_ Lamb's first
impression upon my husband, which I believe his friend saw; and
guessing that he had been extolled, he mischievously resolved to
thwart his panegyrist, disappoint the strangers, and altogether to
upset the suspected plan of showing him off.

The Mathews' were then living at Ivy Cottage, only a short distance from
the Grove, Highgate, where the famous Mathews collection of pictures was
to be seen of which Lamb subsequently wrote in the _London Magazine_.

Here should come a note to Ayrton saying that Madame Noblet is the least
graceful dancer that Lamb ever "did not see."]



LETTER 274

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN PAYNE COLLIER

May 16, 1821.

Dear J.P.C.,--Many thanks for the "Decameron:" I have not such a
gentleman's book in my collection: it was a great treat to me, and I got
it just as I was wanting something of the sort. I take less pleasure in
books than heretofore, but I like books about books. In the second