“Again, at the Carnival in Rome, a man was stilettoed in his arms, drawing first suspicion and then violence on his person: the excess of which he prevented by exclaiming that he was an Englishman and had not done the deed.”

Relating another dramatic danger survived by his travelling father · Letter to John Frere, 27 July 1830

• Death
• Memory

“From Hallam I heard just now: he complains rather of the heat, and says Alfred is delighted with his journey, though regretting the impermanence of his impressions in the hurry of travel.”

Recording Alfred’s frustration at how quickly travel impressions could fade · Letter to John Frere, 27 July 1830

• Memory
• Time

“John, a melancholy change has taken place in our house since I saw you last.”

Opening the announcement of his father’s death with restrained sorrow · Letter to John Frere, 23 March 1831

• Death
• Despair
• Memory

“In spite of my apparent unsociability I have not forgot Halton, nor the older home at Spilsby.”

Acknowledging the lasting hold of places associated with youth and friendship · Letter to Hardwicke Rawnsley, 1872

• Childhood
• Friendship
• Memory

“I often revert to my young days when your grandfather was my father’s friend.”

Connecting a younger friendship with memories of an earlier generation · Letter to Hardwicke Rawnsley, 1872

• Friendship
• Memory

“If I get a good hold of that poor, noble, nodding head I will put him on board of a respectable sonnet and try to save his memory from drowning.”

Turning the sonnet into a vessel for preserving a life in memory · Letter to Agnes Weld

• Memory
• Poetry