1819–1827

Much of the detail in Part IV derives from the Beaumonts’ tours of Switzerland (1819) and Italy (1821). On his return from Switzerland, Beaumont spent over a year experimenting with new ways of painting Mont Blanc: he reports these efforts and longs for opportunities to consult Wordsworth as he progresses. Letters from Italy describe paintings and architecture in Venice, Mantua, and Rome; Beaumont also describes the Michelangelo Tondo he brought back to London. Beaumont conveys his increased interest in sculpture and provides an account of London during the Coronation in 1821 of George IV. Part IV contains the first extant examples of Lady Beaumont’s letters to Mary Wordsworth and much discussion of the Coleridge and Wordsworth children ensues. It closes with Lady Beaumont’s announcement of Sir George’s death in February 1827.