Charles Lloyd

Abstract

Soon after Lamb’s return from his innocent sojourn among the Jacobins, Charles Lloyd descended on him once again out of the blue in mid-August (1797), a good deal recovered in mind after his stay with Dr Darwin. Just now, however, he was agitated about the sudden reversal of his marriage prospects with Sophia Pemberton. Charles Lloyd senior had made his peace with their proposed union, as had Sophia’s family, but one or the other had again broached — perhaps as a condition of assent — the elder Lloyd’s dearest wish, that Charles should work in the bank, with a view to succeeding him. Matters had progressed so far as the finding of a house in Birmingham, the annual rent to be paid by his father, but all such plans were shelved in consternation as the two resisted the bank most firmly. On all of his problems Lloyd sought Lamb’s advice, which Lamb at that moment felt quite helpless to give. Lloyd with his usual disdain of geography (he could pay for good transport) then suggested they seek out Southey in Hampshire, presumably to get his views; Southey always had views. Lamb grasped at the straw and agreed to accompany him to Burton, some seventy miles away — a long day’s jolting journey — on Monday, 14 August, returning the next day.

I am dearly fond of Charles Lloyd; he is all goodness, and I have too much of the world in my composition to feel myself thoroughly deserving of his friendship. Lamb to Coleridge, June, 1797 (M i,,111)

He is a sad Tattler … Lamb to Coleridge, January, 1820 (CL ii, 267)