Alfred Lord Tennyson Pens a Line from a Great Poem: ""Thy voice is heard thro' rolling drums."": He plans to accept a gift of a Powhatan Pipe, which he would famously smoke

This letter comes from an old collection and has not been on the market in generations

Alfred Lord Tennyson long reigned as Poet Laureate under Queen Victoria. His career took off in 1850 after the publication of In Memoriam, followed by Maud, The Charge of the Light Brigade, and Idylls of the King. The Princess is a poem of the forbidden love between Prince and Princess.

In 1866, one of his friends planned a trip to the United States and offered to send him what was then a luxury and oddity: a pipe used by the Powhatan Native Americans. Tennyson was a well-known smoker and relished the gift.

Autograph quotation signed and Autograph letter signed, September 12, 1866, to a Mr. Thompson. ""Thy voice is heard thro' rolling drums. A Tennyson.""

""There is the line for you. I have no friends I know of either at Liverpool or Southampton to whom you might address the Powhatten pipes. I should think you had better send them direct to me at Farringford. Many thanks for your kindness. I trust you will have better weather across the Atlantic than here at present. I can't recollect such another troubled September.

""All happiness to you and my wife's regards. The two boys are at school or would add them.""