Shelley's Ghost

Shelley and Mary learned of Harriet Shelley’s death on 15 December 1816. Mary recorded it in her journal in the briefest fashion – not, surely, out of indifference.

Mary wrote down the date for the following day, but then broke off her journal until her wedding to Shelley on 30 December. Again, the event gets the most laconic of mentions; Mary even gets the date wrong. But here she and Shelley truly were indifferent. Other than the practical advantages it promised, their formal marriage mattered very little to them. Godwin, however, was overjoyed, and father, daughter and son-in-law were finally reconciled.

   Sunday 15th
Draw – a Letter from Hookham with the news of the death of H.S. walk out with S. He goes to town after dinner – read Chesterfield.

   Monday 16th
I have ommitted writing my journal for some time Shelley goes to London & returns I go with him – spend the time between Leigh Hunts and the Godwins a marriage takes place on the 29th draw – read Lord Chesterfield and Locke.

Mary Shelley; (bequest, 1851) Sir Percy and Lady Shelley; (bequest, 1889) Lady Shelley; (bequest, 1899) Shelley Scarlett (later 5th Baron Abinger) and/or Robert Scarlett (later 6th Baron Abinger); (bequest, 1917) Robert Scarlett, 6th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 1927) Hugh Scarlett, 7th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 1943) James Scarlett, 8th Baron Abinger; (bequest, 2002) James Scarlett, 9th Baron Abinger; (purchase, 2004) Bodleian.

Journals of Mary Shelley, i, pp. 150-3; Shelley’s Guitar, no. 62.

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