Yet, who would not be proud to be the owner of it?
There now however lived in it only two old people, who show it to
strangers for a trifle, and what little they earn thus is their
chief income.
Shakespeare's chair, in which he used to sit before the door, was so
cut to pieces that it hardly looked like a chair; for every one that
travels through Stratford cuts off a chip as a remembrance, which he
carefully preserves, and deems a precious relic, I also cut myself a
piece of it, but reverencing Shakespeare as I do, I am almost
ashamed to own to you it was so small that I have lost it, and
therefore you will not see it on my return.
As we travelled, I observed every spot with attention, fancying to
myself that such or such a spot might be the place where such a
genius as Shakespeare's first dawned, and received those first
impressions from surrounding nature which are so strongly marked in
all his works. The first impressions of childhood, I knew, were
strong and permanent; of course I made sure of seeing here some
images at least of the wonderful conceptions of this wonderful man.
But my imagination misled me, and I was disappointed; for I saw
nothing in the country thereabouts at all striking, or in any
respect particularly beautiful. It was not at all wild and
romantic; but rather distinguished for an air of neatness and
simplicity.
We arrived at Birmingham about three o'clock in the afternoon. I
had already paid sixteen shillings at Stratford for my place in the
coach from Oxford to Birmingham. At Oxford they had not asked
anything of me, and indeed you are not obliged in general in
England, as you are in Germany, to pay your passage beforehand.
My companion and myself alighted at the inn where the coach stopped.
We parted with some reluctance, and I was obliged to promise him
that, on my return to London, I would certainly call on him, for
which purpose he gave me his address. His father was Dr. Wilson, a
celebrated author in his particular style of writing.
I now inquired for the house of Mr. Fothergill, to whom I was
recommended, and I was readily directed to it, but had the
misfortune to learn, at the same time, that this very Mr. Fothergill
had died about eight days before. As, therefore, under these
circumstances, my recommendation to him was likely to be but of
little use, I had the less desire to tarry long at Birmingham, and
so, without staying a minute longer, I immediately inquired the road
to Derby, and left Birmingham. Of this famous manufacturing town,
therefore, I can give you no account.
