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UNPUBLISHED LETTERS FROM
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
TO THE REV." JOHN
PRIOR ESTLIN.
COMMUNICATED BY HENRY A. BRIGHT.
UNPUBLISHED LETTERS
FROM SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TO THE
REV. JOHN PRIOR ESTLIN.
HE accompanying very in-
terefting letters of Samuel
Taylor Coleridge have
been kindly placed at my
difpofal by Mifs Eftlin, of Clifton.
They were addrefled to her grand-
father, the Rev. Dr. Eftlin, who was
the Unitarian minifter of the Le win's
Mead Congregation at Briftol. Dr.
Eftlin appears to have been a man of
confiderable ability and very highly
refpedted ; and it is clear that during
the earlier part of Coleridge's career
he exerted a remarkable influence
over him. Thefe letters range from
1796 to 1814, and are efpecially
1)87689
.
: .- 4 - ; Unpublijhed Letters
; curious as {bowing, more fully than
has hitherto been done, the cir-
cumftances under which Coleridge
adopted and afterwards relinquifhed
the profeffion of a Unitarian minifter.
Two diftinguiflied literary men
have fpoken of the time, to which
the moft important of thefe letters
refer. In Hazlitt's " My firft ac-
" quaintance with Poets," which he
contributed to " The Liberal," he
fpeaks of walking, when a boy, ten
miles to Shrewftmry to hear Cole-
ridge preach, for " a poet and a
" philofopher getting up into a Uni-
" tarian pulpit to preach the Gofpel,
" was a romance in thofe degenerate
" days, a fort of revival of the primi-
" tive fpirit of Chriftianity, which
" was not to be refifted."
It was fome eight or nine years
afterwards that De Quincey met
Coleridge. " Coleridge told me that
" it had coft him a painful effort,
of S. T. Coleridge. 5
" but not a moment's hefitation, to
" abjure his Unitarianifm, from the
" circumftance that he had amongft
" the Unitarians many friends, to
" fome of whom he was greatly in-
" debted for great kindnefs. In
" particular he mentioned Mr. Eft-
" lin of Briftol, a diftinguifhed Dif-
" fen ting clergyman, as one whom
" it grieved him to grieve. But he
" would not diflemble his altered
" views."
There is alfo an unpublifhed letter
of February, 1798, from Theophilus
Lindfey (who will be known to
many of us from the interefting ac-
count of him in Trevelyan's " Life
" of Fox") to a friend at Shrewf-
bury, in which he fays : " You
" cannot well conceive how much
" you have raifed my opinion of
" Mr. Coleridge by your account
" of him. Such mining lights, fo
" virtuous and difmterefted, will
6 Unpublifhed Letters
" contribute to redeem the age we
" live in from being fo deftitute of
" apoftolic zeal/'
The previous year, Mrs. Barbauld
had addrefled a poem to Coleridge,
urging him to " fair exertion for
" bright fame fuftained."
I have found it difficult to arrange
thefe letters in their proper order, as
many of them are without date, and
though conjectural dates are often
inferted, there is always liability to
miftake. Cottle's " Early Recol-
" ledlions " has ferved as a guide in
fome inftances, but the letters he
gives are often alfo without date, and
are fometimes apparently mifplaced.
Of the three poems, the fragment
copied out by Mifs Wordfworth
appears afterwards in a fomewhat
altered form, in Book I. of " The
" Excurfion." The verfes, "To An
" Unfortunate Princefs " may be
found in the " Monthly Magazine "
of S. T. Coleridge. 7
with the title " On a late Connubial
" rupture in High Life," and they
appear again in Pickering's edition
of Coleridge, 1877: they are not
in the 1848 edition.
The lines to Home Tooke I am
unable to trace. They were written,
it appears, for " Home Tooke and the
" company, who met on June a8th
" to celebrate his poll," at the Weft-
minfter election. This celebration
was held at the " Crown and Anchor"
in the Strand and was largely at-
tended, and we further learn from
Hamilton Reid's " Life of Tooke,"
that " excellent patriotic fongs "
were fung, but no words are given.
On the circumftances connected
with Coleridge's vifit to Mrs. Evans
(in the firft letter) I can throw no
light, except indeed that Southey,
writing to Cottle in 1836, fays that
in 1 794 " Coleridge made his en-
" gagement to Mifs Fricker on our
8 Unpublijhed Letters
" return from this journey at my
" mother's houfe at Bath ; not a
" little to my aftonimment, for he
" had talked of being deeply in love
" with a certain Mary Evans"
With regard to Coleridge's Shrewf-
bury epifode, it would appear that
he firfl went on trial at Mr. Rowe's
requeft (Coleridge mis-fpells the
name Row throughout), and after-
wards accepted the invitation of the
congregation. The Wedgewoods'
prefent of ioo/. he declined, but
fhortly afterwards came the fecond
offer of 1 5<D/. a year, and this he (not
unnaturally) did not decline.
The laft letters here printed are in
curious contraft to the earlier ones,
but they are equally inconfiftent with
others of the fame date which Cottle
gives, and it is not quite eafy to fee
what Coleridge's views exadtly were.
I learn, however, that the eftrange-
ment which took place between him
of S. T. Coleridge. 9
and Dr. Eftlin was owing lefs to the
divergence in their opinions than to
the fad: that Coleridge's growing
habit of opium taking, joined to an
abfolute reckleflhefs in incurring
debts and in failing to fulfil his en-
gagements, had at this time entirely
alienated Dr. Eftlin's fympathy and
refpedt.
HENRY A. BRIGHT.
[? Jan., 1796.]
MOSELY, BIRMINGHAM.
My dear and honoured friend
N my return from Ottery,
(where I was received by
my mother with tranfport,
and by my brother George
with joy and tendernefs, and by my
other brothers with affectionate
civility) I found at Mr. Wades' a
letter for me from Mrs. Evans a
moft impaflioned letter, in which me
informed me that after me had ac-
quainted her Brothers, &c., that (he
had determined to hazard all con-
fequences rather than lofe me, they
then came forwards and divulged
what before this they had kept fecret
from her, that even her children's
own fortunes were in great meafure
dependent on the will of the grand-
father, and that every thing the
1 2 Unpublijbed Letters
worft was to be expedted from his
implacable refentment. She was
therefore forced to give up the
fcheme, and requefted me to fly back
to her immediately. I accordingly
ftept almoft immediately into the
mail coach this was Saturday night
and arrived at Darley by dinner-
time on Sunday. I haftened to re-
lieve Mrs. Evans's embarraffment.
" I cannot be faid to have loft that
" which I never had, and I have
" gained what I fhould not other-
" wife have pofleffed your efteem
" and acquaintance." " Say rather "
(me exclaimed) "my veneration
" and love." After this we fpent
a lovely week at Matlock, and then
vifited Ham, the moft beautiful of
valleys, and Dove-dale, the moft tre-
mendous of Sublimities. Mrs. Evans
behaved with great liberality. A
little before I was about to quit her,
fhe infifted on my acceptance of 957.,
of S. T. Coleridge. 13
and {he had given Mrs. Coleridge
all her baby clothes, which are, I
fuppofe, very valuable. Well, on
the Wednefday I was to have left
Darley, when in the morning Dr.
Crompton came home. From the
time that I firft left Darley, after
having fettled with Mrs. Evans, he
had been abfent at Liverpool. He
came to make me the following
offer, viz., that if I would take a
houfe in Derby, and open a day-
fchool, confining my number to
twelve, he would fend his three chil-
dren on the following terms : Till
I had completed my number he
would allow me ioo/. a-year for
them ; when I had procured my full
number twelve, he fhould give
twenty guineas for each, exclufive of
writing mafters, drawing, &c. The
children to come at nine and leave
me at twelve ; to come again at two
and leave me at five ; from three to
14 Unpublijhed Letters
five in each afternoon to be occupied
with their writing mailers, &c. He
had not a fhadow of doubt on his
mind that I fhould complete my
number almoft inftantly. If fo, twelve
times twenty guineas =: 240 guineas,
and my mornings and evenings at
my own difpofal, is a good thing ;
fo I accepted his propofal, it being
underftood that if anything better
fhould offer, I am at liberty to accept
it. The plan is to commence in
November ; the intermediate time I
fpend at Briftol, where Mrs. Coleridge
will of courfe lie in. On Thurfday
I left Derby, and am now at Mr.
Hawkes's, at Mofely near Birming-
ham, where I mall ftay till Monday
morning next, and fhall be at Briftol
Monday night. I preached yefter-
day morning from Hebrews, c. iv.
v. i and 2, " Let us therefore fear
"... heard it." 'Twas my chef-
d'ceuvre. I think of writing it down
of S. T*. Coleridge. 15
and publifliing it with two other
fermons, one on the character of
Chrift, and another on his univerfal
reign, from Ifaiah xlv. 22 and 23.
I fhould like you to hear me preach
them. I lament that my political
notoriety prevents my relieving you
occafionally at Briftol. Mrs. Evans
requefted me to make you and Mrs.
Eftlin know and love her ; me fays
that me already knows and loves you
both, for indeed, my dear, very dear
friend! I do love to talk about you.
Kifs the dear little ones for me, and
give my love to Mrs. Eftlin Mrs.
Eftlin who is my Jifter ! Indeed,
I feel myfelf rich, very rich, in
poflefling your love and efteem.
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Monday morning.
P.S. If you can afford time, give
me a line or two.
Rev. Mr. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
1 6 Unpublijhed Letters
[Briftol, 1796?]
Monday Morning, July ^.th.
My dear and highly-honored
Friend,
AM alarmed left I fhould
be obliged to leave Briftol
before you come back,
which, I affure you, would
be chill and comfortlefs to my feel-
ings beyond expreffion. On Friday
laft I received a meflage from
Perry, the editor of the Morning
Chronicle, through Dr. Beddoes,
ftating that if I would come to town
and write for him, he would make
me a regular compenfation adequate
to the maintenance of myfelf and
Mrs. Coleridge. Grey, the co-editor
with Perry, died at the Hotwells, on
Wednefday or Thurfday. Dr. Bed-
does thought it a fine opening for
of S. 7". Coleridge. 17
me, and added that Perry expelled
an immediate anfwer. My feet be-
gan mechanically to move towards
your houfe. I was moft uncom-
fortably fituated. You and Mrs.
Eftlin out of Briflol, and Charles
Danvers out of Briflol, and even
Mr. Wade was abfent. So I had
nobody to fpeak to on the fubjecT:
except Mr. Cottle, which I did,
and he advifed me to write to Perry
immediately and accept his propofal.
I did fo, and expecl: to-morrow a
letter from him with particulars,
which I will immediately acquaint
you with. My heart is very heavy,
for I love Briftol and I do not love
London. Befides, local and tem-
porary politics^are my averfion, they
narrow the underftanding, they nar-
row the heart, they fret the temper.
But there are two Giants leagued to-
gether, whofe moft imperious com-
mands I muft obey, however re-
3
1 8 Unpublijked Letters
ludtant their names are BREAD and
CHEESE.
I received from your lifter your
kind note with Mr. Hobhoufe's and
Dr. Difney's kindnefs. You will
believe, and will acquaint Dr. Difney,
that I feel as 1 ought to do. I have
myfelf written a few lines to Mr.
Hobhoufe.
You have had delightful weather,
and you have that calm funfhine of
the foul that gives you fenfes to
feel and enjoy it. I am with you in
fpirit ; and almoft feel " the fea-
" breeze lift my youthful locks." I
would write Odes and Sonnets morn-
ing and evening, and metaphyiicize
at noon, and of rainy days I would
over whelm you with an Avalanche of
Puns and Conundrums loofened by
fudden thaw from the Alps of my
Imagination.
My moft refpedtful and tendereft
love to dear Mrs. Eftlin, and afk
of S. T. Coleridge. 19
her " If a woman had murdered
" her coufin, and there were no
" other proof of her guilt except
" that (he had a half-barrel cajk in her
" pofleffion, how would that con-
" vidt her ? " Anfwer It would be
evident that me had kild-er-kin. As
I know that now me cannot mortify
me by pretending not to enjoy the
joke, me will laugh moft intemper-
ately. Do not afk her the next till
a quarter of an hour's intermiffion :
Why Satan fitting on a houfe-top
would be like a decayed merchant ?
Anfwer Becaufe he would be imp-
over-a-fhed.
Mr. Wade was talking of Davies
in Clare Street, and afked me what
I thought of a religious attorney.
Why (quoth I) I fliould not doubt
of his attachment to the law and the
profits (i. e. prophets), but fliould
think his Gofpel faith rather queftion-
able.
20 Unpublijhed Letters
My love to Mr. and Mrs. Hort,
and alk Hort (who hates a Conun-
drum, Why a murderer is like an
unborn Jack-afs ? Anfwer He is an
aff-aff-in, i.e. afs in an afs.
You rejoice that the prince and
princefs are reconciled, although I
fear
" That never can true reconcilement grow
" When wounds of deadly wrong have pierced
fo deep."
I compofed a few lines lately on the
Princefs, in which I fimply exprefled
fympathy for her without endea-
vouring to heap odium on her huf-
band. Indeed, as the lines are ad-
drejjed to her, it would have been
brutal to have abufed her hufband
to her face.
To AN UNFORTUNATE PRINCESS.
I figh, fair injur'd Stranger ! for thy fate,
But what fhall Sighs avail thee ? Thy poor
Heart
Mid all the pomp and circumftance of State
Shivers in nakednefs ! Unbidden ftart
of S. T. Coleridge. 21
Sad Recolle&ions of Hope's garifh dream,
That fhap'd a feraph form and named it Love;
It's hues gay-varying as the Orient Beam
Varies the neck of Cytherea's Dove.
To one foft accent of domeftic Joy,
Poor are the Shouts that {hake the high-arch'd
Dome :
The Plaudits, that thy public path annoy,
Alas ! they tell thee, Thou'rt a Wretch at
home !
Then O ! retire and weep ! their very Woes
Solace the guiltlefs. Drop the pearly Flood
On thy fweet Infant, as the FULL-BLOWN Rofe
Surcharg'd with dew bends o'er its neighb'ring
Bup!
And ah ! that Truth fome holy fpell could lend
To lure thy Wanderer from the Syren's power :
Then -bid your Souls infeparably blend,
Like two bright Dew-drops bofom'd in a
flower ! "
S. T. C.
The Reviews have been won-
derful. The Monthly has catarafted
panegyric on my poems, the Critical
has cafcaded it, and the Analytical
has dribbled it with very tolerable
22 Unpublijhed Letters
civility. The Monthly has at leaft
done juftice to my Religious Mufings;
they place it " on the very top of
the fcale of fublimity " ! I !
I fhall finifli with fome verfes
which I addreffed to Home Tooke
and the company who met on June
28th, to celebrate his poll. I begin
by alluding to the comparatively
fmall number which he polled at
his firft conteft for Weftminfter.
You muft read the lines, two
abreaft.
*
Britons ! when laft ye met, with diftant ftreak
So faintly promifed the pale Dawn to break ;
So dim it ftain'd the precin&s of the Sky
E'en Expectation gaz'd with doubtful Eye.
But now fuch fair Varieties of Light
O'er take the heavy failing Clouds of Night;
Th' Horizon kindles with fo rich a red,
That, though the Sun ftill hides his glorious
head,
Th' impatient Matin-bird, ajfiir'd of Day^
Leaves his low neft to meet it's earlieft ray ;
Loud the fweet fong of Gratulation fmgs,
And high in air claps his rejoicing wings !
of S. T. Coleridge. 23
Patriot and Sage ! whofe breeze-like Spirit [CTTCO
firft Trre/ooevra]
The lazy mifts of Pedantry difperf'd,
(Mifts in which Super ftition's pigmy band
Seem'd Giant Forms, the Genii of the Land !)
Thy ftruggles foon fhall wak'ning Britain blefs,
And Truth and Freedom hail thy wifh'd
fuccefs.
Yes Tootef tho* foul Corruption's wolfifh
throng
Outmalice Calumny's impofthum'd Tongue,
Thy Country's nobleft and determined Choice,
Soon (halt thou thrill the Senate with thy
voice ;
With gradual Dawn bid Error's phantoms
flit,
Or wither with the lightning's flafh of Wit ;
Or with fublimer mien and tones more deep,
Charm fworded Juftice from myfterious Sleep,
" By violated Freedom's loud Lament,
" Her Lamps extinguifh'd and her Temple
rent;
" By the forced tears, her captive Martyrs
fhed;
u By each pale Orphan's feeble cry for bread;
" By ravag'd Belgium's corfe-impeded Flood,
" And Vendee {learning ftill with brothers'
blood!"
And if amid the ftrong impaflion'd Tale,
Thy Tongue fhould falter and thy Lips turn
pale 3
24 Unpublijhed Letters
If tranfient Darknefs film thy aweful Eye,
And thy tir'd Bofom ftruggle with a figh :
Science and Freedom (hall demand to hear
Who pradlifed on a Life fo doubly dear ;
Infufed the unwholefome anguifh drop by
drop,
Poif'ning the facred ftream they could not
flop!
Shall bid Thee with recover'd ftrength relate
How dark and deadly is a Coward's Hate :
What feeds of death by wan Confinement
fown,
When prifon-echoes mock'd Difeafe's groan !
Shall bid th' indignant Father flafh difmay,
And drag the unnatural Villain into Day.
Who to the fports of his flefh'd * Ruffians
left
Two lovely Mourners of their Sire bereft !
'Twas wrong, like this, which Rome's firjl
Conful bore,
So by th' infulted Female's name he fwore.
Ruin (and raifed her reeking dagger high)
Not to the Tyrants but the Tyranny ! !
* Dundas left thief-takers in Home Tooke's
Houfe for three days, with his two Daughters
alone : for Home Tooke keeps no fervant.
God who hath blefled you, blefs
you ! Mrs. Coleridge begs her kindeft
love to you all.
of S. T. Coleridge. 25
Once more may God blefs you all
and your obliged and grateful and
truly affedtionate friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Reverend J. P. Eftlin,
Mrs. Smith's,
Bridge-end,
Glamorganfhire.
My dear Friend,
AM not yet gone, but I
go with Mrs. Coleridge
to-morrow morning. I
thought it advifable to get
fome review-books off my hands
firft. I hope, that you and dear
Mrs. Eftlin arrived fafe ! God blefs
you both ! My Heart muft be cold
in the grave, when it ceafes to thrill
and warm at the mention of your
names. You met me
fever'd from thofe amities
26 UnpubHjhed Letters
Which grow upon the Heart, and roughly
pufti'd
Naked and lonely to Life's ftormy verge
and you clothed that heart with
new affeftions, and drew me back to
ferenity. Enough !
" The farewell tear, which even now I pay,
" Beft thanks you, and whene'er of pleafures
flown
" My Heart fome fweeter image would renew,
u Loved, honour'd FRIENDS ! I will remem-
ber you!"
I have printed that Ode I like it
myfelf. A parcel of them will have
arrived at Parfons's, in Paternofter
Row, at the fame time you receive
this letter. It occupies two fheets
Quarto, and is priced one Shilling.
If you think, after perufal, that the
compofition does credit to the author
of the Religious Mufings (pardon
my vanity) you will recommend it
to your friends. I have taken my
of S. T. Coleridge. 27
motto you will fee from jfEfchylus
eptj^wK woipioif are bloody Prefages, I
believe; but I have fent away my
Scapula. You know I am a motto-
philift, and almoft a motto-mant/l
I love an apt motto to my heart.
llapaxoTra (page 9) is a good word.
It is commonly but loofely rendered
madnefs; it means properly an excifion
of mind fo that we fee but one fide,
and are blind to noonday evidence on
the other.
Have , you preached your anti-
atheiftical fermon ? Do you print it
in London ? Let me hear (directing
to me, Stowey, near Bridgewater,
Somerfet).
Prefent our refpefts to Mr. and
Mrs. Bifhop. I hope to hear fhortly
that he is fafely delivered, for I am
fure his heart is in a ftate of parturi-
ence that demands fympathy equally
with the " to come " of your lovely
fifter-in-law.
28 Unpublijhed Letters
Prefent my refpeds to Dr. Difney,
and my affectionate regards to Mr.
Frend, if you fee him.
My David Hartley laughs, cries,
and fucks with all imaginable viva-
city.
Heaven love you, and your grateful
and affectionate
S. T. COLERIDGE.
December 30^, 1796.
P.S.I have adopted your objection
to " urg'd his flight " it certainly
meant nothing.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
at Mr. Bifhop's,
No. 21, Eflex Street,
Strand,
London.
of S. T. Coleridge. 29
[STOWEY, 1797.]
My dear Friend,
WAS indeed greatly re-
joiced at the firft fight of
a letter from you ; but
its contents were painful.
Dear, dear Mrs. Eftlin ! Sara burft
into an agony of tears, that {he had
been fo ill. Indeed, indeed, we hover
about her, and think, and talk of her,
with many an interjection of prayer.
I do not wonder that you have ac-
quired a diftafte to London your
affociations muft be painful indeed.
But God be praifed ! you mall look
back on thofe fufferings, as the vexa-
tions of a dream ! Our friend, T.
Poole, particularly requefts me to
mention how deeply he condoles
with you in Mrs. Eftlin's illnefs,
how fervently he thanks God for her
recovery. I aflure you he was ex-
tremely afFedted. We are all re-
30 Unpublijhed Letters
markably well, and the child grows
fat and ftrong. Our houfe is better
than we expected there is a com-
fortable bedroom and fitting-room
for C. Lloyd, and another for us, a
room for Nanny, a kitchen, and out-
houfe. Before our door a clear
brook runs of very foft water ; and
in the back yard is a nice well of
fine fpring water. We have a very
pretty garden, and large enough to
find us vegetables and employment,
and I am already an expert gardener,
and both my hands can exhibit a
callum, as teftimonials of their In-
duftry. We have likewife a fweet
Orchard, and at the end of it T.
Poole has made a gate, which leads
into his garden and from thence
either through the tan yard into his
houfe, or elfe through his orchard
over a fine meadow into the garden of
a Mrs. Cruikfhanks, an old acquain-
tance, who married on the fame day
of S. T. Coleridge. 31
as I, and has got a little girl a
little younger than David Hartley.
Mrs. Cruikfhanks is a fweet little
woman, of the fame fize as my Sara,
and they are extremely cordial. T.
Poole's Mother behaves to us, as a
kind and tender Mother. She is
very fond indeed of my wife, fo
that, you fee, I ought to be happy,
and, thank God, I am fo. I may
expeft your fermon, I fuppofe, in
the courfe of a fortnight. Will you
fend me introductory letter to Mr.
Howell of Bridgewater, and Toul-
minof Taunton? I have fifty things to
write, but the carrier is at the door.
To poor John give our love, and our
kind love to Mifs Eftlin, and to all
friends. To Mrs. Eftlin my heart is fo
full, that I know not what to write.
Believe me, with gratitude, with
filial refpedt, and fraternal afFedtion,
Your fincere friend 9
S. T. COLERIDGE.
3 2 Unpublijhed Letters
Friday Morning.
My dear Friend,
WRITE from Crofs, to
which place I accom-
panied Mr. Wordfworth,
who will give you this
letter. We vifited Cheddar, but
his main bufinefs was to bring back
poor Lloyd, whofe infirmities have
been made the inftruments of another
man's darker paflions. But Lloyd
(as we found by a letter that met us
in the road) is off for Birmingham.
Wordfworth proceeds, left poffibly
Lloyd may not be gone, and like-
wife to fee his own Briftol friends,
as he is fo near them. I have now
known him a year and fome months,
and my admiration, I might fay, my
awe of his intellectual powers has
of S. T. Coleridge. 33
increafed even to this hour, and
(what is of more importance) he is
a tried good man. On one fubjecl:
we are habitually iilent ; we found
our data diffimilar, and never re-
newed the fubjecl:. It is his practice
and almoft his nature to convey all
the truth he knows without any
attack on what he fuppofes falfehood,
if that falfehood be interwoven with
virtues or happinefs. He loves and
venerates Chrift and Chriftianity.
I wifh he did more, but it were
wrong indeed, if an incoincidence
with one of our wifhes altered our
refpedt and affeftion to a man, of
whom we are, as it were, inftrudled
by one great Mailer to fay that not
being againft us he is for us. His
genius is moft apparent in poetry,
and rarely, except to me in tete-a-tete,
breaks forth in converfational elo-
quence. My beft and moft affec-
tionate wifhes attend Mrs. Eftlin
34 Unpubtijhed Letters
and your little ones, and believe me
with filial and fraternal Friendfhip,
Your grateful
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
STOWEY, Sunday.
[1797, probably.]
My dear Friend,
WOULD accept your kind
invitation immediately, but
that I have a bad foot. A
fcald imperfedtly healed,
and I walked with it ; after one day's
walking I was obliged to return with
a wound in my foot. But if poffible,
I will ride to Briftol at the end of the
week. Heaven forbid that there
(hould not be worfe vices of the
mind than Prejudice for all of us,
of S. T. Coleridge. 35
more or lefs, muft neceflarily be
prejudiced. The worft vice of the
Intellect, I believe, is malignant Pre-
judice, and next to this, or perhaps
co-equal with it, is Indifference. I
have fometimes feared, from the
diflike, the encreafing diflike, which
I find in myfelf, to all chlrurgical
operations, that my mind is verging
to this ftate ; it is certainly much
nearer to it, than to any difquietude
and reftleffnefs of Temper concerning
errors, which do not appear directly
connected with vice and mifery. I
judge fo much by the fruits, that I
feel a conftant yearning towards the
belief that fuch tenets are not errors.
Now all this applies to the prefent
cafe. I cannot as yet reconcile my
intellect to the facramental Rites; but
as I do not fee any ill effect which
they produce among the Diflen-
ters, and as you declare from your
own experience that they have good
36 Unpublijhed Letters
effects, it is painful to me even
fimply to ft ate my dijjent, and more
than this I have not done, and, un-
lefs Chriftianity were attacked on
this head by an Infidel of real learn-
ing and talents, more than this I do
not confider myfelf as bound to do.
I never even ftate my diflent unlefs
to minifters who urge me to under-
take the miniftry. My conduct is
this- I omit the rites, and wiih to
fay nothing about it ; everything that
relates to Chriftianity is of impor-
tance, but yet all things are not of
equal importance : and when the In-
cendiaries have furrounded the build-
ing, it is idle to difpute among our-
felves whether an old ftaircafe was
placed in it by the original Architect,
or added afterwards by a meaner hand.
But notwithftanding this, its little
comparative importance, I cannot,
I muft not play the hypocrite. If I
performed or received the Lord's
of S. 7"! Coleridge. 37
Supper in my prefent ftate of mind,
I fhould indeed be eating and drink-
ing condemnation. But this I need
not fay to you. As to Norwich, it
is an ugly place, and an extrava-
gantly dear place, and it is very, very
far diftant from all I love, animate
and inanimate, and parties run high,
and I am wearied with politics, even
to forenefs. I never knew a paffion
for politics exift for a long time
without fwallowing up, or abfolutely
excluding, a paffion for Religion.
Perhaps I am wrong ; but fo I think.
However, I truft to fee you by the
end of the week. To Mrs. Eftlin
remember me affectionately, and
kifs for me the dear little ones. May
Heaven love you and him who ever
feels for you the mingled affections
of Son, Brother, and Friend !
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
38 Unpublijhed Letters
[From Racedown Lodge, near Crewkherne,
June, 1797.]
[Portion cut off.]
WISHED to have written
you when it was decided.
Thefe caufes diflblved in
that univerfal menftruum
of apologies, my indolence, made
me delay my letter till, I fear, I
write at a time when even a
letter from a friend will intrude on
your fears and anxieties. Believe
me, I mare them ; no hour paffes, in
which I do not think of, with an
eagernefs of mind, dear Mrs. Eftlin.
I feel, at times, fad and deprefled on
her account on mine own, I might
have faid. For, God knows ! thefe
are not the times, when we can fear
for a dear friend with a moderate
fear!
of S. I*. Coleridge. 39
I am at prefent fojourning for a
few days with Wordfworth, at Race-
down Lodge, near Crewkherne, and
finifhing my tragedy. Wordfworth,
who is a ftricT: and almoft fevere
critic, thinks very highly of it, which
gives me great hopes.
When there are two minifters
they ought to be either as Brothers
one foul in two heads or as
Father and Son.
I breakfafted with Dr. Toulmin
laft Monday ; the more I fee of that
man, the more I love him.
I preached for Mr. Howel the
Sunday before. My fermon was
admired, but admired fermons, I have
reafon to think, are not thofe that
do moft good. I endeavoured to
awaken a zeal for Chriftianity by
mowing the contemptiblenefs and
evil of lukewarmnefs.
(T. Poole gives me notice that you
40 Unpublijhed Letters
have, at Midfummer, twenty guineas
for me which thofe have contributed
who believe that they are enabling
me to benefit my fellow-creatures in
proportion to my powers.
Will you be fo kind as to call on
Mrs. Fricker, and give her five
guineas in my name ; and to tranfmit
five guineas to Mrs. Coleridge. I
hope and truft that this will be the
laft year that I can confcientioufly
accept of thofe contributions, which
in my prefent lot, and confcious of
my prefent occupations, I feel no
pain in doing.
If this Mr. Reynell fettles with
me, it will at leaft provide my im-
mediate houfehold expenfes, and, if
my Tragedy fucceed, lo triumphe !
Give my heartfelt love to dear,
dear Mrs. Eftlin, and kifs dear Anna,
and Alfred and Caroline for me.
My kindeft remembrances to Mr.
and Mrs. Hort, and believe me,
of S. T. Coleridge. 41
your obliged and truly affectionate
friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
[Racedown Lodge, near
Crewkherne. 1797.]
My dear Friend,
WROTE to you yefter-
day, and to-day I muft
write again. I (hall have
quite finiflied my Tragedy
in a day or two ; and then I mean
to walk to Bowles, the poet, to read
it to him, and have his criticifms,
and then accordingly, as he advifes,
I fhall either tranfmit the play to
Sheridan, or go to London and
have a perfonal interview with him.
At prefent I am almoft fhillinglefs ;
I fhould be glad, therefore, if you
6
42 Unpublijhed Letters
could tranfmit me immediately zji've
pound note of the Bank of England,
directed
S. T. COLERIDGE,
Racedown Lodge,
near Crewkherne.
I calculate that by this time your
anxieties are paft; mine will continue
till I hear from you. This is a
lovely country, and Wordfworth is
a great man ; he admires your fer-
mon againft Payne much more than
your laft; I fuppofe becaufe he is
more inclined to Chriftianity than
to Theifm, limply confidered. The
lines overleaf, which I have procured
Mifs Wordfworth to tranfcribe, will,
I think, pleafe you. When I arrive
at Bowles's, I will write again, giving
you a minute account of the bard,
God blefsyou, and yours, and all of us!
Moft affeftionately,
Your obliged friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Saturday morning.
of S. T. Coleridge. 43
her eye
Was bufy in the diftance, ftiaping things
That made her heart beat quick. Seed thou
that path ?
(The greenfward now has broken its grey
line ;)
There, to and fro fhe paced, through many a
day
Of the warm fummer : from a belt of flax
That girt her waift, fpinning the long-drawn
thread
With backward fteps. Yet, ever as there
parted
A man, whofe garments fhowed the Soldier's
red,
Or crippled mendicant in Sailor's garb,
The little child, who fat to turn the wheel,
Ceafed from his toil ; and (he, with faltering
voice,
Expe&ing ftill to learn her hufband's fate,
Made many a fond inquiry ; and when they,
Whofe prefence gave no comfort, were gone by,
Her heart was ftill more fad. And by yon gate
That bars the traveller's road, fhe often fat,
And if a ftranger-horfeman came, the latch
Would lift, and in his face look wiftfully,
Moft happy, if from aught difcovered there
Of tender feeling, fhe might dare repeat
The fame fad queftion. Meanwhile her poor
hut
Sank to decay : for he was gone, whofe hand,
At the firft nippings of October froft,
44 Unpublished Letters
Clofed up each chink, and with frefh bands of
ftraw
Checquered the green-grown thatch ; and fo
(he fat
Through the long winter, recklefs and alone,
Till this reft houfe by froft, and thaw, and rain,
Was fapped ; and, when fhe flept, the nightly
damps
Did chill her breaft, and in the ftormy day
Her tattered clothes were ruffled by the wind,
Even by the fide of her own fire, yet ftill
She loved this wretched fpot, nor would for
worlds
Have parted hence : and ftill, that length of
road,
And this rude bench, one torturing hope
endeared,
Faft rooted at her heart ; and, Stranger, here
In ficknefs fhe remained, and here (he died,
Laft human tenant of thefe ruined walls.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
of S. T. Coleridge. 45
[SHREWSBURY.]
Sunday night.
My very dear Friend,
FTER a fatiguing journey
I arrived here on Saturday
night. I left Worcefter
fix o'clock Saturday morn-
ing, and we did not reach Shrewf-
bury till Saturday night, eight o'clock.
I preached, of courfe, morning and
afternoon. Like Mr. Row much; he
is a fenfible, Chriftian-hearted man,
and I am very well. What more
can I write? If you were to pay
the poft, it would go againft my
confcience to leave fo much fpace
unfilled and give you fo little for
your money ; but as it will cofl you
nothing, why (hould I ftand wring-
ing my difliclout of a brain in order
to fqueeze out a few dirty drops not
worth the having ?
Give my kind love to Mrs. Eftlin,
46 Unpublijhed Letters
and believe me with fraternal and
filial efteem and affedion,
Yours,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
To Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
By favour of Mr. Kell.
[Undated, Stowey, December -, 1797.]
Saturday morning.
My dear Friend,
N the morning of Chrift-
mas Day I received Mr.
Row's letter to you. On
Thurfday night, eleven
o'clock, I received from Mr. J. Wood
of Shrewfbury an invitation in the
name of Mr. Row's congregation,
accompanied with a very kind note
from Mr. Row. On this fubjedt
of S. T. Coleridge. 47
I now entreat your friendly advice ;
and in order to enable you to give it,
I mufl retrace my life for the laft
three months. At the commence-
ment of this period I began to feel
the neceffity of gaining a regular in-
come by a regular occupation. My
heart yearned toward the miniftry ;
but Iconfidered my fcruples, as almoft
infurmountable obftacles to my con-
fcientious performance of its duties.
Another plan prefented itfelf : that
of joining with Mr. Montague in a
project of Tuition. Our fcheme was
fingular and extenfive : extenfive,
for we propofed in three years to go
fyftematically, yet with conftant re-
ference to the nature of man, through
the mathematical branches, che-
miftry, anatomy, the laws of life,
the laws of intellect, and laftly,
through univerfal hiftory, arranging
feparately all the facts that elucidate
the feparate ftates of fociety favage,
48 UnpubUJhed Letters
civilized, and luxurious : fingular,
for we propofed ourfelves not as
Teachers, but only as Managing Stu-
dents. If by this plan I could at
once fubfift my family for three
years, and enable myfelf to acquire
fuch a mafs of knowledge, it would
doubtlefs be preferable to all other
modes of adlion for me, who have
juft knowledge enough of moft
things to feel my ignorance of all
things. The probability, however,
of its fuccefs was very fmall. Before
I left Stowey it dwindled yet more,
and when at Briftol, in all the de-
fpondency of the new taxes, the plan
appeared abfolutely romantic. In
the meantime my converfations with
you had certainly weakened my con-
victions on certain fubjefts, or at
leaft deadened their efficacy. I made
up my mind to be a Diflenting
Minifter, and offered to fupply Mr.
Row's place for a few Sundays at
of S. T. Coleridge. 49
Shrewfbury, to fee whether I liked
the place and whether the congre-
gation liked me, and would endure
my opinions, which, foftened and
modified as they had been, did ftill
retain a degree of peculiarity. I
returned to Stowey, and wrote to
Montague, that if indeed he fhould
procure, and immediately procure,
the eight pupils at ioo/. a year,
they boarding and lodging at their
own expenfe (for this was his plan),
I would join him gladly. But as I
did not perceive the jKgbtcft chance
of this, unlefs it were done imme-
diately, I fhould accept fome fitu-
ation as DifTenting Minifter, and
that I had no time for delay or
wavering.
Well ! on Chriftmas Day morning
I received two letters one from you,
i.e. Mr. Row's letter to you one in
an unknown hand, but which I fup-
pofed to be upon fome newfpaper
50 Unpublijhed Letters
bufinefs, and did not open it till
fome time after I had read and pon-
dered the former. In this I faw the
features of contingency very ftrongly
marked, and (as I always do on fuch
occafions) to prevent difappointment
I checked my hopes. Mr. Kentijh
was to be applied to. I had heard
that he was not very comfortably
fituated at Exeter; and as to Nor-
wich, the fame motives which in-
clined me not only to prefer Shrewf-
bury, but Shrewfbury out of the
queftion, to rejecl: Norwich, I natu-
rally fuppofed would have its influ-
ence on him the falary being fo
much more, the country more de-
lightful, and provifions of all kinds
fo much cheaper. Suppofing that
he declined it, ftill it was uncertain
whether the congregation would
elecT: me ; and that part of Mr. Row's
letter (" without fome independence
" Mr. C. is almoft the only man I
of S. T. Coleridge. 51
" would wirti to fettle here," &c.) in-
creafed my doubts. I did not refufe
to think, that by gentlenefs and in-
telledual efforts, I fhould compel
their refpedt when they became
acquainted with me ; but I thought
it probable, that fuch a congregation,
in a town fo violently ariftocratic,
would be deterred from electing me
by the notoriety of my political con-
duct, and by the remaining pecu-
liarities of my religious creed. My
mind was loft and fwallowed up in
mufing on all this, when I careleffly
opened the fecond letter. It proved
to be from Mr. Jofiah Wedgewood.
The following is a copy : " Dear
" Sir, My brother Thomas and
" myfelf had feparately determined
" that it would be right to enable
" you to defer entering into an en-
" gagement, we underftand you are
" about to form, from the moft ur-
" gent of motives. We therefore
52 Unpublijhed Letters
" requeft you will accept the en-
" clofed Draft with the fame fim-
" plicity with which it is offered to
" you.
" Dear Sir, fincerely yours,
" JOSIAH WEDGEWOOD.
" P.S. The draft is payable to the
" bearer of it. I fhall be obliged to
"you to acknowledge the receipt of
" it to me at Penzance." The in-
clofed draft was for a hundred
pound. Well ! what was I to do ?
This hundred pound joined with
the guinea per week which I gain
from the Morning Poft, and which
only takes me up two days in the
week, would give me the leifure and
tranquillity of independence for the
two next years, at the end of which
time, by fyftematic ftudy, I mould
be better fitted for any profeffion
than I am at prefent. Without this,
unlefs I am elected at Shrewfbury,
which I thought more than uncer-
of S. T. Coleridge. 53
tain, I fhall remain neceffitous and
dependent, and be compelled to fag
on in all the nakednefs of Talent,
without the materials of knowledge
or fyftematic information. But if
I accept it, I certainly bind myfelf
to hold myfelf free for fome time at
lead for the co-execution of the
plan of general ftudy with Montague ;
and in the realization of which I
underftand that the Wedgewoods
are actively interefting themfelves,
as conceiving it likely to be of gene-
ral benefit. And this letter was to
be anfwered immediately. My friend
T. Poole ftrenuoufly advifed me to
accept it, confidering how contin-
gent the Shrewfbury plan appeared.
I however lingered, I may truly fay,
almoft a fleeplefs man, Monday
night, and Tuefday night, and Wed-
nefday night, regularly fitting up
till the poft came in, which is not
till half-paft eleven, anxioufly hoping
54 Unpublijhed Letters
to receive fome letter more decilive
refpedting Shrewfbury. On the
Thurfday morning I was obliged to
acknowledge the receipt of the Draft,
having already delayed it beyond all
limits of propriety. Well, after a
ftorm of fluctuations, Poole ftill re-
taining his opinions, and urging
them more decifively, I accepted
the Draft in a letter expreffive of
manly gratitude, and on the Thurf-
day night I received the letter from
Mr. Wood ! The diftrefs of my
mind fince then has been inex-
preffible. The plan which with the
eagernefs of Friendship you had been
exerting yourfelf to fecure for me
how can I bear to think that it
fhould perifh in your hand, the very
moment you had caught it ? Yet,
on the other hand, if I fend back
the Draft, I mall lofe the efteem of
the Wedgewoods and their friends,
to whom I mall appear deficient not
of S. T. Coleridge. 55
only in confiftency, but even in
common probity. It will appear to
them that I accepted the Draft in
words which implied that it had re-
lieved me from a ftate of great un-
certainty, whereas, in truth, I had
accepted it to confole myfelf for a
difappointment. Write immediately.
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
[Undated, STOWEY, January^ 1798.]
My Dear Friend,
FTER much and very pain-
ful hefitation I have at
length returned the draft
to Mr. Wedgewood with
a long letter explanatory of my con-
duct. The firft funny morning that
I walk out at Shrewfbury, will make
56 Unpublijhed Letters
my heart die away within me for I
mall be in a land of ftrangers. For
I mall have left a friend whofe fym-
pathies were perfeft with my man-
ners, feelings and opinions and
what is yet more painful, I mall
have left him unconvinced of the
expediency of my going, public or
perfonal. I could notjtay with an
eafy confcience, but whether I fhall be
happy fo far removed from any who
love me, I know not. This I know
I will make myfelf contented by
ftruggling to do my duty.
I have written to Mr. Wood and
to Mr. Row promifing to be at
Shrewfbury by the latter end of next
week. To-morrow I perform Mr.
Howel's duty the good old man
has gone to London with his daugh-
ter to feek furgical affiftance for
her.
I am now utterly without money,
and my account ftands thus. I owe
of S. T. Coleridge. 57
Biggs 5/., Parfons, the bookfeller,
owes me more than this confiderably ;
but he is a rogue, and will not pay
me. I have not paid Mrs. Fricker
her quarterly allowance in fhort
d.
Bl gg s ...500
Mrs. Fricker .550
A quarter's rent
due Dec. 25th 220
1797
Maid's wages i i o
Shoemaker . i 13 o
Coals ...260
Chandler . . o 12 o
Sundries o 12 o
i ii o
This is all I owe in the world : now
in order to pay it I muft borrow
i o/. of you, 5/. of Mr. Wade, and
will fell my Ballad to Phillips who I
doubt not will give me 5/. for it
8
58 Unpublijhed Letters
I fuppofe, that my Friends will not
withdraw their annual fubfcription
of 5/. this year; afterwards of courfe,
I fhould not want it fo that, you
fee, I propofe to anticipate yours,
Mr. Hobhoufe's, and Mr. Wade's
fubfcriptions. God love you ! I
will be with you as foon as riches,
inftead of making themfehes wings,
{hall make a pair for my fhoulders
at prefent, I am abfolutely un-
fledged. Yours, with filial and fra-
ternal affedlion,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Saturday Morning. My affectionate re-
membrances to Mrs. Eftlin.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
of S. 7". Coleridge. 59
[STOWEY, 1798 ?]
Tuefday Night.
My Dear Friend,
F you have never been a
flave to the fuperftition of
impulfes, you will marvel
to hear that I arrived
at Stowey on Friday laft, by dinner
time. I left Mr. Wedgewood's on
Thurfday evening, juft time enough
to keep an engagement I had made
to fup with a Mr. Williams of Not-
tingham, at the White Lion.
There I flept awoke at five in the
morning, and was haunted by a
ftrange notion that there was fome-
thing of great importance that de-
manded my immediate prefence at
Stowey. I drefled myfelf, and
walked out to diffipate the folly
but the Bridgewater Coach rattling
by, and the coachman afking me if
60 Unpublijhed Letters
I would get in I took it for an
omen the fuperftitious feeling re-
curred and in I went came home,
and found my wife and child in
very good health ! However, as I
muft neceffarily be in Briftol in a
few weeks, I the lefs regret my
ftrange and abrupt departure. T.
Poole informs me that there is a
letter for me at your houfe if fo,
be fo kind as to fend it to Mr.
Cottle's for me. T. Wedgewood
did not fpeak a word to me about
the circumftance, only that I fhould
hear from him. So I know nothing
relating to myfelf fo far, which you
do not know.
Have you given over the thoughts
of editing Butler's Analogy with
notes? If the Unitarian Society
would publifh it in their tracts, I
would willingly and immediately
undertake it with you adding a
difquifition on Hume's fyftem of
of S. T. Coleridge. 6 1
caufation or rather of non-caufa-
tion. This is the pillar, and con-
fefledly the fole pillar, of modern
Atheifm ; if we could clearly and
manifeftly detect the fophifms of this
fyftem, I think that Butler's Analogy
aided by well-placed notes, would an-
fwer irrefiftibly all the objections to
Chriftianity founded on a priori rea-
fonings, and thefe are the only rea-
fonings that infidels ufe even with
plaufibility. I have fentyou Payne's
letter to Erfkine, it was fent to
me privately by the Editor of the
Morning Poft, for they do not ven-
ture to publijh it. There are fome
ludicrous blunders exemp. gratia
this erudite Philofopher miftakes
Mofes's autograph for the publica-
tion of the law, and aflerts that
the law was not known till Hilkiah
(Chronicles ch. xxxiv.) pretended to
have found it. Mr. Ireland pretended
to have found a copy of Lear in
6 2 Unpublijhed Letters
Shakefpere's own hand, ergo, we
have proof that the tragedy was not
compofed by Shakefpere, and never
heard of till the thirty-feventh year
of the reign of George the third !
Erudite logician ! There is annexed
a fermon in defence of Deity with
one or two good remarks in it, but
the proof is very idle, and the defini-
tion of Deity i.e., a being whofe
power is equal to his will in all
probability applies equally to a
maggot. There is, however, an ar-
gument againft the Bible quite new
"I (the faid Thomas Payne)
" could write a better book myfelf "
and therefore it cannot be the
word of God. Now, unlefs we
fuppofe Mr. Payne miftaken (which
is hard to fuppofe on a fubject
where he muft be fo impartial a
judge, i.e., his own genius) this ar-
gument is quite unanfwerable !
I mentioned the Unitarian So-
of S. T. Coleridge. 63
ciety, becaufe I propofe to myfelf
no pecuniary profit, but could not
fuftain, on the other hand, any pe-
cuniary lofs.
My kind love to Mrs. Eftlin, and
believe me with gratitude, efteem,
and fervent affection, ever, ever
yours,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
[Undated, Shrewfbury.]
My very dear Friend,
ANSWER your letter to
Mr. Row, becaufe it is
probable that I muft fay
all that he would fay, and
that I fhall have to fay what he
could not fay for me. We have
talked over the affair ferioufly, and
at the conclulion of our conversations
our opinions have nearly coincided.
64 Unpublifhed Letters
Firft of all I muft give you the in-
formation which I have received on
this affair, and then I will proceed
to make fome diredt obfervations on
your very kind letter. In a letter
full of elevated fentiments Mr. Jonah
Wedgewood offers me from himfelf
and his brother Thomas Wedgewood,
" an annuity of 1507. for life, legally
" fecured to me, no condition whatever
"being annexed." You feemed by
the phrafe of "a family in this
"neighbourhood," to fuppofe that
the offer proceeded from or included
the Wedgewoods at Cote Houfe;
this is not the cafe. Jofiah Wedge-
wood lives in Staffordfhire. Now
nothing can be clearer than that I
cannot accept the minifterial falary
at Shrewfbury and this at the fame
time. For as I am morally certain
that the Wedgewoods would not
have thought it their duty, or rather
would have found it to be not their
of S. T. Coleridge. 65
duty, to have offered me 1507. yearly,
if I had been previoufly poffeffed of
an 1507. regular income, it follows
indifputably that I cannot accept the
firfl 1507, with the determination to
accept the latter 1507. immediately
after. But (independently of the
animus donantls which is conclufive
in this cafe) were I to accept the
falary at Shrewsbury, I 'would not
accept the annuity from the Wedge-
woods. Many deferve it equally,
and few would want it lefs. It is
almoft equally clear to me, that as
two diftincl: and incompatible objects
are propofed to me I ought to choofe
between them, with reference to the
advantages of each, and not make
the one a dernier refource if the
other mould fail. No, anteriorly
to the decifion of the congregation
here, I will fend the Wedgewoods
a definitive anfwer, either accepting
or declining the offer. If I accept
9
66 Unpublijhed Letters
it, I will accept it for itfelf, and not
to confole me for a difappointment
in the other object, which I fhould
have preferred if I could have enfured
it. Now then I can ftate clearly
the Queftion on which I am to
decide. "Shall I refufe 1507. a
" year for life, as certain as any for-
tune can be, for (I will call it)
"another 1507. a year, the attain-
" ment of which is not yet certain,
" and the duration of which is pre-
" carious ? " You anfwer, " Yes ! the
" caufe of Chriftianity and practical
" Religion demands your exertions.
" The powers of intellect, which God
"has given you, are given for this
" very purpofe, that they may be em-
" ployed in promoting the beft inte-
" refts of mankind." Now the
anfwer would be decifive to my
underflanding, and (I think you
know enough of me to believe me
when I fay that were the annuity
o/S. T. Coleridge. 67
i,5oo/. a year inftead of 1507.) it
fhould be decifive on my conduct,
if I could fee any reafon why my
exertions for Chriftianity and prac-
tical Religion depend, I will not fay
on my being at Shrewfbury, but on
my becoming a ftipendiary and regu-
lar minifter. It makes me blufh, I
affure you, fitting alone as I now am,
at the idea of mentioning two fuch
names as I am about to do, with any
fuppofeable reference to my own
talents, prefent or to come, but the
kind is not altered by the degree. Did
Dr. HARTLEY employ himfelf for
the promotion of the beft interefts
of mankind ? Moft certainly. If
inftead of being a phyfician he had
been an hired Teacher, that he would
not have taught Chriftianity better,
I can certainly fay, and I fufpect,
from the vulgar prejudices of man-
kind, that his name might have been
lefs efficacious. That, however, is
68 Unpublijhed Letters
a Trifle. A man who thinks that
Lardner defended Chriftianity be-
caufe he received 5<D/. or 6o/. a year
for preaching at Crouched Friars,
muft be fuch a booby that it cannot
be of much confequence what he
thinks. But, Lardner ! do you really
think, my dear Friend, that it would
have been of much detriment to the
Chriftian world if the author of the
Credibility, &c., had never received
or accepted the invitation at Crouched
Friars? Surely not. I mould be
very unwilling to think that my
efforts as a Chriftian minifter de-
pended on my preaching regularly
in one pulpit. God forbid ! To the
caufe of Religion I folemnly devote
all my beft faculties ; and if I wifh
to acquire knowledge as a philo-
fopher and fame as a poet, I pray for
grace that I may continue to feel
what I now feel, that my greateft
reafon for wifhing the one and the
of S. T. Coleridge. 69
other is, that I may be enabled by
my knowledge to defend Religion
ably, and by my reputation to draw
attention to the defence of it. I re-
gard every experiment that Prieftley
made in Chemiftry as giving wings
to his more fublime theological
works. I moft affuredly (hall preach
often, and it is my prefent purpofe
alternately to affift Dr. Toulmin and
Mr. Howel one part of every Sunday
while I ftay at Stowey. " I know "
(you fay) " that it was from the
" pureft motives that he thought of
" entering into the miniftry." My
motives were as pure as they could
be, or ought to be. Surely an efpe-
cial attachment to a fociety, which I
had never feen, was not one of them ;
neither if I were to permit myfelf
to be elected the Minifter here,
mould I confider the falary as the
payment of my fervices, my ftated
and particular fervices to the people
70 Unpublijhed Letters
here, but as a means of enabling my-
felf to employ all my time both for
their benefit and that of all my fellow
beings. Two modes of gaining my
livelihood were in my power. The
prefs without reference to Religion,
and Religion without reference to the
Prefs. (By the Prefs as a Trade I
wim you to underftand, reviewing,
newfpaper writing, and all thofe
things in which I propofed no fame
to myfelf or permanent good to
fociety, but only to gain that bread
which might empower me to do
both the one and the other on my
vacant days.) I chofe the latter. I
preferred, as more innocent in the
firft place, and more ufeful in the
fecond place, the miniftry as aTrade to
the prefs as a Trade. A circumftance
arifes, and the neceffity ceafes for my
taking up either that is, as a means
of providing myfelf with the necef-
faries of Life. Why fhould I not
of S. T. Coleridge. 71
adopt it ? But you continue " And
" I cannot but rejoice that he has it
" in his power to demonstrate this "
(/'.*., the purity of my motives) "to
" the fatisfa&ion of others." It is
pajjibky then, that fome may fay,
" While he wanted money, he was
" willing to preach the Gofpel in
" order to get it ; when that want
"ceafed, his zeal departed." Let
them fay it. I {hall anfwer moft
truly While I could not devote my
time to the fervice of Religion with-
out receiving money from a particular
congregation, I fubdued the ftruggles
of reludlance, and would have fub-
mitted to receive it. Now I am
enabled as I have received freely,
freely to give. If in the courfe of
a few years I mall have appeared
negleftful of the caufe of Religion, if
by my writings and preachings I fhall
not have been endeavouring to pro-
pagate it, then, and not till then,
72 Unpublijhed Letters
the charge will affeft me. I have
written you as the thoughts came
uppermoft. I might fay a great deal
more. I might talk of Shrewfbury
in particular, and ftate particular
reafons of attachment to Stowey, but
I choofe to confine myfelf to generals.
Anterior to my converfation, Mr.
Row thought on the whole that I
ought to accept the annuity. He
defires me to fay, that he will leave
this place on the Wednefday of next
week for Briftol. I will ferve for
him as long as he choofes.
Yours mofl affedtionately,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
P.S. To this add that the annuity
is independent of my health, &c. &c.,
the falary dependent not on health,
but on twenty caprices of twenty
people.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
of S. T. Coleridge. 73
Monday^ May i^th, 1798 [Stowey].
My dear Friend,
OUGHT to have written
to you before; and have
done very wrong in not
writing. But I have had
many forrows, and fome that bite
deep ; calumny and ingratitude from
men who have been foflered in the
bofom of my confidence ! I pray God,
that I may fandlify thefe events by
forgivenefs and a peaceful fpirit full
of love. This morning, half-paft
one, my wife was fafely delivered of
a fine boy; me had a remarkably
good time, better if poffible than her
laft, and both me and the child are
as well as can be. By the by, it is
only three in the morning now.
I walked in to Taunton and back
again, and performed the divine fer-
vices for Dr. Toulmin. I fuppofe
10
74 Unpubtijhed Letters
you muft have heard that his daugh-
ter, in a melancholy derangement,
fuffered herfelf to be fwallowed up
by the tide on the fea-coafl between
Sidmouth and Bere. Thefe events
cut cruelly into the hearts of old
men; but the good Dr. Toulmin
bears it like the true practical
Chriftian, there is indeed a tear in
his eye, but that eye is lifted up to
the Heavenly Father. I have been
too negledtful of practical religion
I mean, actual and ftated prayer, and
a regular perufal of fcripture as a
morning and evening duty. May
God grant me grace to amend this
error, for it is a grievous one ! Con-
fcious of frailty I almoft wifh (I fay
it confidentially to you) that I had
become a ftated minifter, for indeed
I find true joy after a fincere prayer ;
but for want of habit my mind wan-
ders, and I cannot pray as often as I
ought. Thankfgiving is pleafant in
of S. T. Coleridge. 75
the performance; but prayer and dif-
tindt confeffion I find moft fervice-
able to my fpiritual health when I
can do it. But though all my doubts
are done away, though Chriftianity
is my pajfion, it is too much my in-
tellefiual paffion ; and therefore will
do me but little good in the hour
of temptation and calamity.
My love to Mrs. E. and the dear
little ones, and ever, O ever, believe
me, with true affection and gratitude
Your filial Friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
Unpublijhed Letters
[LONDON, 1800.]
Saturday, March 1st.
My very dear Friend,
HEN I received your let-
ter, fome three minutes
ago, I turned to my Guide
des Voyageurs en Europe
to know where Marburg was. I
guefs it to be Marburg in the
Bifhoprick of Padderbourn, between
Frankfort and Caflel. If fo, I have
not been within forty miles at leaft
of it, having never been many miles
below Caflel, at all events the name
of the perfon you mention is wholly
unknown to me. I once knew a
Mifs Bouclere in Devonshire. As to
myfelf, I zmfagging, and am deliver-
ing to the prefs fome plays of
Schiller's. I (hall foon however flide
away from this place, and devote my-
felf to works of more importance.
of S. T. Coleridge. 77
I have feen Mr. and Mrs. Barbauld
two or three times once at their
own houfe admirable people ! Dr.
Difney's fons, at all events the
younger, with his fhirt collar half-
way up his cheek, gave me no high
idea of the propriety of Unitarian
DifTenters fending their fons to Ef-
tablifhed and Idolatrous Univerfities.
It may be very true, that at Hackney
they learnt, too many of them, Infi-
delity. The Tutor, the 'whole plan of
education, the place itfelf, were all
wrong but many will return to the
good caufe, in which alone plain
practical Reafon can find footing
but at Cambridge and Oxford they
will not learn Infidelity perhaps, or
perhaps they may, for now 'tis com-
mon enough even there, to my certain
knowledge but one thing they will
learn indifference to all Religions
but the Religion of the Gentleman.
Gentle man linefs will be the word, and
78 Unpublijhed Letters
bring with it a deep contempt for
thofe Diffenters among whom they
were born. We Diflenters (for I am
proud of the diftindtion) have fome-
what of a fimple and fcholarly for-
mality perhaps : God forbid we fliould
wholly lofe it ! but with the young
men at Oxford and Cambridge " the
"gentleman" is the all -implying
word of honour, a thing more blaft-
ing to real virtue, real liberty, real
ftanding forth for the truth in Chrift,
than all the Whoredoms and Impuri-
ties which this Gentlemanlinefs does
moft generally bring with it. My
dear friend ! in the crowded, heart-
lefs party at Dr. Difney's, O ! how
I did think of your Sunday fuppers,
their light uncumbrous fimplicity,
the heartinefs of manner, the literary
Chriftiannefs of converfation. Dr.
Difney himfelf I refpett, highly re-
fpecl : in the pulpit he is an apoftle y
but there there it flops.
of S. T. Coleridge. 79
My beft and overflowing love to
Mrs. Eftlin, kifles and love to your
children. Sara is better. Hartley
rampant.
Heaven blefs you, and your affec-
tionate friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Mrs. Coleridge begs to be remem-
bered to you and dear Mrs. Eftlin
" with all, all, all my heart." There
you have her own words.
P.S. Nothing is more common
than for confcious infidels to go into
the Church. Confcious Arians or
Socinians fwarm in it. So much for
the morals of Oxford and Cambridge.
With their too early reafonings, and
logic-cuttings, and reading Hume
and fuch like tra(h, the young Dif-
fenters are prone to Infidelity, but do
you know any inftance of fuch an
Infidel accepting an office that implied
the belief of Chriftianity ? It cannot
be faid, that this is owing to our pre-
8o Unpublijbed Letters
ferments being fo much fmaller : for
the majority are but Curates in the
Eftabliflied Church, or on fmall
Livings, and not fo well off as George
Burnet was, or Sam. Reed would
have been, but this is it, my dear
friend ! The Education, which Dif-
fenters receive among Diffenters,
generates confcientioufnefs and a
fcrupulous turn : will this be gained
at the wine parties at Cambridge?
The truth is, Dr. Difney himfelf
fees only with too much pleafure the
Gentlemanlinefs. I fay thus much,
my dear friend ! becaufe I once heard
you fpeak in commendation of that
which I am now deprecating.
P.S. The more I fee of Mrs. Bar-
bauld the more I admire her that
wonderful propriety of mind ! She
has great acutenefs, very great yet
how fteadily (he keeps it within the
bounds of practical Reafon. This /
almoft envy as well as admire my
of S. T. Coleridge. 81
own fubtleties too often lead me
into ftrange (though God be praifed)
tranfient out-of-the-wayneffes. Oft
like a winged* fpider, I am entangled
in a new-fpun web, but never fear
for me, 'tis but the flutter of my
wings and off I am again !
The little man fo full of great
affections, you cannot love him better
than I.
* By the bye, there is no fuch creature.
But in fimiles, if a phoenix, why not a winged
fpider ?
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
Briftol.
n
8 2 Unpublished Letters
GRETA HALL, KESWICK.
July 26, 1802.
My dear Friend,
AY after day, and week
after week, have I been in-
tending to writeto you. To
enumerate all the caufes
of the delay (fuperadded alas ! to
my inveterate habits of procraftina-
tion) would make my prefent letter
a very different one from what I
wifh it to be, a doleful inftead of a
cheerful one. I am at prefent in
better health than I have been,
though by no means flrong or well
and at home all is Peace and Love.
I am about fhortly to addrefs a few
letters to the Britifh Critic on the
ufe of the definitive article, and
the inferences drawn from it by
Grenville Sharp, and lince attempted
to be proved in a very learned and
of S. T. Coleridge. 83
induftrious work by the Rev. C.
Wordfworth, a fellow of Trinity,
our Wordfworth's brother. Sharp's
principle is as follows : When KCU
connects two nouns (not of the plural
number, and not proper names] if the
article o, or any of its cafes, precedes
the firft of the faid Nouns or Parti-
ciples, and is not repeated before the
fecond Noun or Participle, the latter
always relates to the fame perfon,
that is exprefled or defcribed by, the
firft Noun or Participle, ex. gr. O
Qeog KOU, HaTyp rov Kvpiov yfjiuv, &C.,
2 Cor. i. 3- Tu^xoff o cvyounviToq
A$eXq>o$ KOLI AIOMOVOS, &c., Eph. vi.
21, from which rule he deduces
abfolute affertions of the Godhead
of Chrift from Acts xx. 28, Eph.
v. 5, 2 Theflal. i. 12, i Timoth.
v. 21, 2 Timoth. iv. i, Titus ii. 13,
2 Peter i. i, Jude 4. Kit Wordf-
worth's book is occupied in proofs
that all the Greek Fathers, and many
84 Unpublijhed Letters
and thofe the moft learned of the
Latin Fathers, did fo underfland thefe
texts, when from the nature of the
Arian controverfy, it would have
anfwered their purpofes much better
to have underftood the words ac-
cording to our prefent verfions.
The firft thing that flared me in the
face, and which I afterwards found
true, is that all the inftances but two
are, to all intents and purpofes, pro-
per names , and confequently fall
within Grenville Sharp's own ex-
ception. The two inftances which
I have not found ufed as proper
names are Titus ii. 13, and 2 Peter
i. i . Now if you know any proof
of Z^r^p being ufed without an ar-
ticle in any place where it ftands by
itfelf, in the fame manner as Chrift
is, and God, and as Kvptog I can
prove to be in a hundred inftances
in Greek, you would ferve me, and
what is a much greater inducement
of S. T. Coleridge. 85
to you, throw light on a very im-
portant fubjecl: ; or if you know any
inftance in which Sharp's rule is
falfified. In Englifh now, exem.
caufd, we might fay, As I walked
out to-day, whom mould I meet but
the carpenter and fhoemaker of our
village ? It would certainly be more
accurate to fay the carpenter and the
fhoemaker ; but the accuracy of
fpecial pleading is to be found in
few books, nor is it neceflary. You
would know that I had met two
perfons, becaufe you know that the
trades of carpenter and moemaker
are not one in this country, whereas
if I had faid, the carpenter and
joiner, though the form of grammar
would have been the fame, you
would have known inftantly that I
had met but one man. If you re-
collect in Ariftophanes, &c., or the
Septuagint, any inftances to this pur-
pofe, you would oblige me by tranf-
86 Unpublijhed Letters
mitting them to me. Unfortunately,
I have none of the Greek Fathers,
neither have I the Septuagint ; but
I have found much that I want
in Suicerus's Thefaurus Patrum,
which I was lucky enough to buy
for its weight at a druggift's. In
thefe letters I purpofe to review
Horfley's and Prieftley's controverfy,
and in thefe you will fee my Con-
fejfio Fidei, which as far as regards
the doctrine of the Trinity is negative
Unitarianifm, a non liquet concern-
ing the nature and being of Chrift,
but a condemnation of the Trini-
tarians as being wife beyond what is
written. On the fubjects of the
original corruption of our Nature,
the doctrines of Redemption, Re-
generation, Grace, and Juftification by
Faith, my conviftions are altogether
different from thofe of Drs, Prieftley,
Lindfey, and Difney ; neither do I
conceive Chriftianity to be tenable
of S. T. Coleridge. 87
on the Prieftleyan hypothefis. I
read Lardner often ; not fo much
for the information I gain from him
which is, however, very great
but for the admirable modefty and
truly Chriftian fpirit which breathes
through his works, and which I
wim to imbibe as a man, and to
imitate as a writer, well aware of
the natural Impetuofity and War-
hurt onianifm of my own unconnected
difpofition. My dear Friend, be-
lieve no idle reports concerning me ;
if I differ from you, and wherein I
differ from you, it will be that I
believe on the whole more than you,
not lefs, of which I give, I truft, the
beft proof in my power, by breeding
up my child in habits of awe for
Deity, and undoubted Faith in the
truth in Chrift. I thank you from
the bottom of my heart for the
pleafure and inftrudlion which I
have received from your fermon on
88 Unpublijhed Letters
the Sabbath, which I have read
repeatedly, and (hall take occafion to
fpeak of", as in my humble opinion
incomparably the beft work that
has been written on the fubjeft, as
far as I have feen, and a fufficient
anfwer to (what I had before be-
lieved unanfwerable) Paley's objec-
tions. It grieved me that you fhould
have the word genius fo empha-
tically (p. 26) to Evanfon, for furely
you wrote it unthinkingly. Is not
Evanfon egregioufly a weak and vain
man ? God forgive me if I fpeak un-
charitably, I am fure I do not feel fo ;
but his book on the diffonance of
the Evangelifts ftruck me as the
fillieft and moft vapid book I ever
perufed. <po<5pa roi trfjuKpog cov rov
vow, uq ow ex, ruv uvTov Xoyuv Texpypa,-
fjisvov smew, Qouvtrai the Papias
among the Unitarians (Lardn. vol.
ii. p. 1 08). I wiih you would give
us in fome form or other, in maga-
of S. T. Coleridge. 89
zine or feparate publication, a real
hiftory, in the fpirit of Lardner, of all
that can be collected of the opinions
of the Jews and Jewifh doclors, con-
cerning the Meffiah, antecedent to
the time of Chrift and lince that
time. I have been rather diflatisfied
with Lardner's anfwer to the fourth
and laft objection to the philofo-
phical explanation of the Daemoniacs.
Do be fo good as to look to the
paflage, vol. i. p. 483. Dr Lardner
intimates that it was not Chrift's
bufinefs to inftrucl: men in phyfics
that it was foreign to his miffion,
that he was engaged in teaching the
principles of true religion, and that
any debate on this error might have
diverted him from his main work.
The Jews were not in danger of
idolatry, there was therefore no ur-
gent neceffity, and he adds two in-
ftances in which our Lord ftudioufly
declined to concern himfelf with
12
90 Unpublijhed Letters
things foreign to the office of a
prophet. Now the firft of thefe in-
ftances feems to me to weigh againft
Lardner. Chrift might have con-
futed a dangerous error without in-
volving any queftion of natural or
metaphyfical philofophy ; he did
not decide for or againft the doclrine
of pre-exiftence ; but he moft effec-
tually quafhed the pernicious moral
error of attributing all affliction to
diredt judgments of God upon the
individual fo afflicted. If the Evan-
gelifts had in any one paflage merely
called the Daemoniacs difeafed men,
or infane men, " whofe difeafes are
" believed by the people to proceed
" from Daemons," or difeafes the true
caufes of which are not revealed to
us, but which are believed to proceed
from Daemons, there would have
been, I conceive, no phyfical hypo-
thefis implied, and yet the Gofpel
faved from [the] apparent ignominy
of S. T. Coleridge. 91
of having confirmed .... its au-
thor . . . . fo wild and inhuman.
In Dr. Lardner's fecond inftance, I
. . . . agree with him that "it
" could not but .... work to de-
" cide " that caufe, as the brother re-
quired. On this .... appears to
me that if Chrift had done fo, he
would have .... inftitutions of
individual property, and the alliance
of fpiritual .... authority with
concerns of a purely fecular nature.
But to .... orderly. i. It was
not his buiinefs to inftrudt men
in natural .... Anfuver. True !
But it was a grievous moral error as
well as phyfical abfurdity, and might
have been removed without any de-
ciiion in phyfics, at leaft fo far as
that his religion could not have
been chargeable with aiding and
confirming it. 2. It was foreign to
his miffion, which was to inftruft
men in the principles of true Re-
92 Unpublijhed Letters
ligion. Anfwer. True principles
cannot be taught but by the fub-
verfion of falfe ones. This is emi-
nently the practice in the Gofpel of
Chrift ; more than half of Chrift's
Difcourfe on the Mount is confumed
in exploding errors ; elfewhere He is
open and urgent in the fame ever
fo with St. Paul. Do, my dear
friend ! read what Lardner fays, p.
462, 463, and 464, and then decide
in your own mind on the bafenefs
and pernicious effects of fuch a fu-
perftition. You know human nature
too well not to know that a mind in
terror of Spirits, and attributing di-
feafes to their malice, though it may
not be ftridtly idolatrous but that it
is impoffible that it can be a wor-
Jhipper of the true God in the proper,
Chriftian, and fpiritual meaning of
worfhipping, in Spirit and in Truth.
But not only did it imply frightful
corruption in the great article of
of S. T. Coleridge. 93
all Religion, the moral attributes of
God ; but it muft needs have had a
bad effedt,and an anti-focial influence
on the intercourfe between man and
man. It is not fair, my dear Sir ! to
ftate it as a mere popular opinion ; it
was a reigning and inveterate fuper-
ftition, accompanied by the moft
wicked practices ; all the impoftures
and delufions of Exorcifm, vide p.
486, 487. Yet fo far are thefe
Exorcifts from being condemned by
Chrift, that their Innocence is cited
by him to prove his own. Matt,
xii. 27, 28. Dr. Lardner's Expo-
fition of thefe two verfes, p. 489,
appears to me exceedingly arbitrary,
and utterly deftitute of probability
or plaufibility. Indeed, I confefs it
mocked me, in fo dear and every
way excellent a man. If you fee
this matter in a different light, and
approve of Lardner's Expolition, I
will ftate my objections to it at
94 Unpublijhed Letters
length ; at prefent I have no room
on my paper. 3. It was not im-
mediately connected with his mif-
iion, and there was no urgent ne-
ceffity. Anfwer. It was (ug pot Soxsi)
immediately connected with His
miffion. For how could thofe be
deemed fane or proper judges of
true miracles, who gave evidence in
favour of falfe ones? St. Paul (as
Dr. Lardner himfelf ihows, p. 453)
directly aflerts the exiftence of
wicked Spirits fwarming in the air,
and in a ftate of enmity to man.
Eph. vi. n, 12. Without preffing
at all too hardly on the nature of
evidence, I think we may be per-
mitted to fay that men who believed
that fix thoufand Spirits dwelt in the
body of one man, and after they
were forced to leave it went into
two thoufand pigs, three Devils to
one pig, muft have been credulous
or unreafoning men, and might, as
of S. T. Coleridge. 95
far as this remained without a coun-
terbalance, have been fairly chal-
lenged as unfit to be upon a jury in
a queflion of miracles. But God
be praifed ! we can ihow that an
ample counterbalance did exift ; yet
ftill Chriftianity is chargeable with
having confirmed and taught a per-
nicious error. The infidelical ar-
gument from Chriftian wars, cru-
fades, &c., is childifh. Chriftianity
was the pretext, not the caufe ; but
of the horrible burnings and drown-
ings of thoufands of men and wo-
men as Witches, and all the irre-
verent and inhuman feelings towards
aged and hypochondriacal people,
Chriftianity might feem to have
been directly and properly the caufe ;
for when the Phyficians and natural
Philofophers earneftly laboured to
inculcate humane and true views on
this fubjecl:, they were filenced by
the authority of the Gofpel, and
96 Unpublijhed Letters
their efforts for a long time fruf-
trated, as you may eafily convince
yourfelf by reading the controverfies
concerning Witches. I have ftated
the argument, as I wiih to ftate
every argument, with as much force
as if I were a complete convert to
it. I hope to hear from you on
this fubjeft, and then I will give
you all I can fay in folution of the
difficulty, which I confefs appears
to me a very ferious one.
I meant to have faid much to
Mrs. Eftlin, and I am at the end of
the paper. May God preferve her,
and you, and your little ones.
Your affedtionate and grateful
friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. Mr. Eftlin,
Briftol.
of S. T. Coleridge. 97
Dec. 7, 1802. CRESCELLY, NEAR
NARBARTH, PEMBROKESHIRE.
My dear Friend,
TOOK the liberty of de-
firing Mrs. Coleridge to
direct a letter for me to
you, fully expelling to
have feen you ; but I paffed rapidly
through Briftol, and left it with Mr.
Wedgewood immediately I literally
had no time to fee any one. I hope,
however, to fee you on my return,
for I wifh very much to have fome
hours' converfation with you on a
fubjeft, that will not ceafe to intereft
either of us while we live at leaft,
and I truft that is a fynonime of
" for ever ! "
As Mr. T. Wedgewood, however,
is rapid in his movements, and fud-
den in his refolves, it is poflible that
98 Unpublijhed Letters
we may ftrike up dire&ly through
Wales into the North, without taking
Briftol in our way ; I muft therefore
requeft that you will be fo good as
to re-direct any letter or letters, which
there may be for me, to T. B.
Allen's, Efq., Crefcelly, near Nar-
barth, Pembroke (hire, by the return
of poft.
Have you feen my different effays
in the Morning Poft? the com-
parifon of Imperial Rome and
France, the " Once a Jacobin,
" always a Jacobin," and the two
letters to Mr. Fox ? Are my politics
yours ?
Have you heard lately from
America ? A gentleman informed
me, that the progrefs of religious
Deifm in the middle Provinces is
exceedingly rapid, that there are
numerous congregations of Deifts,
&c., &c. Would to Heaven this
were the cafe in France ! Surely,
of S. T. Coleridge. 99
religious Deifm is infinitely nearer
the religion of our Saviour than the '
grofs idolatry of Popery, or the more
decorous, but not lefs genuine,
idolatry, of a vaft majority of Pro-
teftants. If there be meaning in
words, it appears to me that the
Quakers and Unitarians are the only
Chriftians, altogether pure from
Idolatry, and even of thefe I am
fometimes jealous, that fome of the
Unitarians make too much an Idol
of their one God. Even the worfhip
of one God becomes Idolatry , in my
convictions, when inftead of the
Eternal and Omniprefent, in whom
we live and move and have our
Being, we fet up a diflindt Jehovah,
tricked out in the anthropomorphic
attributes of Time and fuccej/ive
Thoughts, and think of him as a
Perfon.from whom we had our Being.
The tendency to Idolatry feems to
me to lie at the root of all our
ioo Unpublijhed Letters
human vices it is our original Sin.
When we difmifs three Perfons in the
Deity, only by fubtrafting two, we
talk more intelligibly, but I fear, do
not feel more religioufly for God
is a Spirit, and muft be worfhipped
in Spirit.
O my dear Sir ! it is long fince we
have feen each other believe me,
my efteem and grateful affedtion for
you and Mrs. Eftlin has fuffered no
abatement, or intermiffion nor can
1 perfuade myfelf, that my opinions,
fully ftated and fully understood,
would appear to you to differ ejfen-
tially from your own. My creed is
very limple my confeffion of Faith
very brief. I approve altogether and
embrace entirely the Religion of the
Quakers, but exceedingly diflike the
feft, and their own notions of their
own Religion. By Quakerifm I
underftand the opinions of George
Fox rather than thofe of Barclay
of S. T. Coleridge. 101
who was the St. Paul of Quakerifm.
I pray for you, and yours ! !
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
BriftoJ.
ALLAN BANK, GRASMERE, 3 Dec., 1808.
My dear Sir,
HEN I was laft at Briftol,
not only was my Health
in a far worfe ftate than I
had refolution to make
known ; but my mind was halting
between Defpondency and Defpair.
On my return to the North, I fum-
moned up courage, and put my cafe
fairly under the care and judgment
of a Phyfician, and I have now almoft
recovered my former nature. If it
were in my power to make you con-
102 Unpublijhed Letters
fcious of what paries within me, you
would deduce one proof of this from
the diftinct images of my early
Friends, that now fo often rife up
before " that inward eye which is
" the Blifs of Solitude," and the lively
affections of attachment and gratitude
which accompany them. What I
feel towards you, my dear lir, and
that I have never forgotten or under-
valued your warm and zealous friend-
fhip when I was nakedly my own
undifciplined Self, friendlefs, home-
lefs, fortunelefs, I give you now a
flight proof of; yet the beft in my
power, by unbofoming myfelf to you.
For years I had with the bittereft
pangs of felf- difapprobation ftruggled
in fecret againft the habit of taking
narcotics. My confcience indeed
fully acquitted me of taking them
from the weaknefs of Self-indulgence,
or for the fake of any pleafurable
fenfation, or exhilaration of fpirits
of S. 7"! Coleridge. 103
in truth the effects were the very
contrary. From the difufe my fpirits
and pleafurable feelings ufed gra-
dually to increafe to the very hour,
when my circulation became fud-
denly difturbed, a painful and intoler-
able yawning commenced ; foon fol-
lowed by a violent bowel complaint
.... [torn out] .... gave proof
that the liver had ceafed to per-
form its proper functions, in fhort
I had the ftrongeft convictions that
if I perfifted, I mould die. Still
however, I had no other ground for
this conviction than my own feelings,
and therefore was never fure, that I
was not acting guiltily. At length
I made a fair trial under the eye of
a Phyfician, determining, whatever
might be the refult, henceforward
never to conceal anything of any
kind from thofe who loved me, and
lived with me. The refult was, that
it could not be abandoned without
104 Unpublijhed Letters
lofs of life, at leaft, not at once, but
fuch has been the blefled effedt upon
my fpirits of having no fecret to brood
over, that I have been enabled to
reduce the dofe to one Jixth part of
what I formerly took, and my appe-
tite, general health, and mental ac-
tivity are greater than I have known
them for years paft. O ! had
you conje&ured the inward anguifh
that was confuming me (for it is a
goodnefs of Providence to me that I
cannot do wrong without fevere felf-
punifhment), both in your heart and
in that of dear Mrs. Eftlin's, pity
would have fufpended all condemna-
tion for my real or apparent neglefts
of the duties which I owe to my
friends, my family, and my own Soul.
I look onward to my future exertions
with humble confidence. By the
work, of which you have here the
Profpeftus, I have received ftrong
encouragements to the belief, that I
of S. T. Coleridge. 105
fhall do good. As I am almoft fure,
that in the fubjedts admiffible in fuch
a work, our Principles are the fame,
I have no immediate motive to detail
to you the Tenets in which we differ.
Indeed the difference is not as great
as you have been led to fuppofe, and
are [fie] rather philofophical than
theological. I believe the Father of
all to be the only Object of Adoration
or Prayer ; the Calviniftic Tenet of
a vicarious Satisfaction I reject not
without fome Horror, and though I
believe that the Redemption by Chrift
implies more, than what the Uni-
tarians underftand by the phrafe, yet
I ufe it rather as an X Y Z, an un-
known Quantity, than as words to
which I pretend to annex clear
notions. I believe, that in the fal-
vation of man a fpiritual procefs fui
generis is required, a fpiritual aid and
agency, the nature of which I am
wholly ignorant of, as a caufe, and
H
io6 Unpublijhed Letters
only imperfedtly apprehend it from
its neceffity and its effefts.
As to " THE FRIEND," I make no
requeft to you. You will do me all
the good you can, compatible with
the approbation of your own mind.
I have received promifes of fupport
from men of very high name in the
literary world and as to my own
efforts, I coniider the work as the
main pipe of my intellectual Refervoir.
The firft Eflay will be on the nature
and importance of principles. The
blindnefs to this I have long regarded
as the difeafe of this difcuffing, cal-
culating, prudential age (and to prove
this, and to mow its confequences in
morality, tafte, and even in the com-
mon goings-on of daily life, is my
paramount objedt for the whole
work).
Remember me to Mrs. Eftlin, as
one who in his inmoft Being has
never ceafed to be her and your ob-
of S. T. Coleridge. 107
liged and affe&ionate friend, with
moft unfeigned refpedl,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Rev. J. P. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill,
' Briftol.
[BRISTOL.]
Tuefday y 5 April^ 1814.
My dear Sir,
rig uv
g TO ypdfpeiv, I have had,
alas ! other both external
and internal obftacles, and
thofe of a fort the moft heart-appal-
ling, to the realization of a refolve
I had made to wit, that of writing
to you at large on the deeply in-
terefting fubjed: of your Work on
Universal Reftitution. Ifpeak within
bounds, when I fay that I have care-
ic8 Unpublijhed Letters
fully read through the whole five
times, independent of partial and
defultory references : and my own
private judgement is fixed. It is this :
that in the Court, which you have
felecled, and to the Judges or op-
ponents, to whom and for whom
you have argued, you have gained
the Caufe completely. I fcarcely know
how to fancy a mind fo obftinately
illogical as, aflenting to your pre-
mifes (the remedial ends of all juft
punifhment ; the inconfiftency of
the adjunct with its principal in the
term "wndi&wc juftice;" and its
further incompatibility with the in-
finite LOVE, which God is ; &c. )
could refufe his aflent to your con-
clufions. The writer of the illiberal
article in the Eclectic Review
among many other uncharitable over-
fights, forgot the firft duty of a can-
did Critic that of afking, to whom
and for whom was the work written ?
of S. T. Coleridge. 109
His proper language as an orthodox,
or (if I might coin a more modeft
expreffion, a pleiftodox = u$ roig
TrXeKTToig Soycei) man fhould have been
fomethinglike the folio wing: "The
" opponents, to whom alone this work
"is controverfial, aflume the fame
"premifes as the author: and we
" cannot conceive how they can
"object to his deductions. If the
" Scriptures prefent difficulties to the
" advocate of limited and remedial
" Punifliment, they prefent them ten-
" fold to the annihilators from
" whofe fyftem nature itfelf recoils.
"As Deifts, the latter clafs might
" have fomething plaufible to fay for
" themfelves ; but as Chriftians, and
" as deeming themfelves, of courfe,
" obliged to acknowledge the refur-
" redlion of all men, the worft as
" well as the beft, their fyftem be-
" comes monftrous,and reprefents the
" Supreme Being in a light fcarcely
1 10 Unpublished Letters
"lefs blafphemous to his Wifdom
"than to his Goodnefs. For our-
" felves, we hold it fufficient to fay :
" Non nobis ! To thofe of our faith,
" who deny the premifes in toto, the
" book was not written, and unlefs
" Dr. Eftlin mould addrefs a proof
" of the Premifes (which in his pre-
" fent work would have been fuper-
" fluous) to all Chriftians in general,
" we fhall content ourfelves with the
" open declaration of this our diffent.
" Confidered as a literary work, the
" arrangement is orderly and natural,
"the language iimple and correct,
" and the whole compofition breathes
" a fincere, open, and moft affectionate
"fpirit."
This, my dear fir, is my own
opinion of your Difcourfes. If you
felt inclined to afk, what then my
faith is as to this awful fubjedt, I mould
refer to your own Book, to the quo-
tation from Jeremy that is my
of S. 7". Coleridge. in
creed. I believe, that punifhment
is effentially uindi&i'ue, i.e. expreffive
of abhorrence of Sin for its own ex-
ceeding finfulnefs : from all expe-
rience, as well as a priori from the
conftitution of the human Soul, I
gather that without a miraculous
intervention of Omnipotence the
Punifhment muft continue as long as
the foul, which I believe imperim-
able. God has promifed no fuch
miracle, he has covenanted no fuch
mercy, I have no right therefore to
believe or rely on it. It may be fo,
but wo to me ! if I prefume on it.
There is a great difference, my dear
Sir! between the affertion " It is fo!"
and " I have no right to aflert the
" contrary ! "
I take the liberty of enclofing for
your kind acceptance a ticket of
admiffion to my Lectures (which
commence this evening) for yourfelf,
family, and friends. Should you, or
112
Unpublijhed Letters
Mrs. E., or any of your family, have
leifure or inclination, believe me, the
more you bring, the more fervice you
will do me. I am afking a favour
by the fame adt by which I would
give a humble proof, that notwith-
ftanding difference of creeds, I can
never ceafe to remember that I am
your greatly obliged, nor, I truft, to
feel myfelf your grateful friend,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
Dr. Eftlin,
St. Michael's Hill.
Saturday Night, April 9, 1814.
[BriftoL]
Dear Sir,
ND is it poflible that you
can rejeft, and drive from
your prefence "a friend,
once dear to your Heart, 5
unqueftioned? unheard? I have this
of S. T. Coleridge. \ 1 3
very moment returned home : and
on eagerly opening your note was,
as it were, thunderftruck : and I
have no reafon to believe that I
(hould have gueffed the caufe, had
it not been for an accidental fpeech
of Mr. Le Breton's to me, after my
Lecture. " At a certain phrafe of
" yours, (faid he) I looked round to
" fee whether Dr. E. was there."
I inftantly replied to him would to
Heaven, he had been ! the very fight
of Him would have made it impoffi-
ble that fo foolifh an expreffion
fhould have entered into my mind,
much lefs have been uttered by me.
And (I continued) yet I folemnly
declare, that to the beft of my Belief
I fhould have been juft as likely to
have ufed it, being in a fimilar tone
of mind, at the time that I was my-
felf a moft fincere and fervent Uni-
tarian.
Firft, dear Sir ! let me entreat
'5
ii4 Unfublijhed Letters
you to confider that my Lectures,
with exception only of the general
Plan of leading Thoughts, are lite-
rally and ftri&ly extempore, the
words of the moment ! Next, let me
hope that the expreffion ufed by me
has not been reprefented with all the
palliating circumftances. Whoever
was your Informer, can likewife tell
you that the immediately preceding
part of the Lecture had been of a
(for me] unufually cheerful and
even mirth-exciting nature and in
fpeaking of a fublime Invention of
Milton, unfupported by the natural
and obvious fenfe of the Text (for
had it been a mere quotation, like
that of " Let there be Light ! etc.,"
where had been his Sublimity?) I
faid in previous explanation thefe
very words: "for Milton has been
" pleafed to reprefent Satan as afcep-
" tical Socinian!'
Now had I faid, that Milton had
of S.T. Coleridge. 115
reprefented Satan as convinced of the
prophetic and Meffianic character of
Chrift, but fceptical concerning any x
higher claims, I fhould have ftated
the mere matter of fad: and can I
think it poffible that you mould for
ever withhold your affedtion and
efteem from me merely becaufe moft
incautioufly and with improper
Levity, I confefs and with unfeigned
forrow, I conveyed the very fame
thoughts or fact in a foolifh Phrafe ?
Permit me, Sir, to afk you one Quef-
tion. Have you ever had reafon to
fuppofe or fufpeft, that in my expref-
fions of gratitude and affectionate
efteem toward you, I have been ever
influenced by a fingle felfifh expe&a-
tion, or the moft diftant interefted
motive? Has that been my character ?
or if it had been, can it be fuppofed
that deliberately and with malice pre-
penfe I could have openly infulted a
body of Chriftians, not only com
1 1 6 Unpublijhed Letters
prizing a large number of the weal-
thieft andmoft refpe&able Citizens of
Briftol, but among thefe full half of
all, whom I knew moft intimately,
moft refpe6t,andwho have been moft
kind and attentive to me, as MM.
Caftle and family, and Brothers, Mr.
Danvers, etc.
Dear Sir! Let not tomorrow's
Prayer offered to our common Father
for forgivenefs pafs without an
inward forgivenefs of me for an
offence, which, I call Heaven witnefs,
was never intended which was the
refult of a momentary Levity, for
which I fhould be moft eager to
make any apology, public or private,
as far as is confiftent with the truth
namely, that it was a mere Levity,
and not meant to convey any ferious
farcafm on the opinions you profefs.
I do again affert, that as far as I know
my own heart and nature, it is my
full convidlion, that in the fame
of S. T. Coleridge. 117
carelefs mood of mind I fhould have
been juft as likely to have ufed the
fame words to the fame purpofe at
the time that I was myfelf a zealous
Socinian, and let Danvers or any
one who knew me then intimately
in my unguarded Talk, decide
whether I have faid aught impro-
bable in this affertion. I hope, I need
not fay, that it is the defire of being
prefent to you in your kind wifhes,
and not any great pleafure I find in
iiijiting, except as far as I at once
enjoy and gratify friendly feelings,
has occafioned you the trouble of
reading this long Letter from him,
who (however unkindly you may
think of him) will ever be and avow
himfelf with high efteem your
obliged and grateful,
S. T. C.
Dr. Eftlin,
St. Michael's.
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