Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Greta Hall, to Elizabeth Wardell (nee Crumpe), at Bank, Chester, dated 13 April 1829. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 23.

Gretahall

April 13 1829

My dearest Elizabeth

Long ago I trust you received a letter from me congratulating you on your pleasing maternal prospects, & telling you from Hartley how welcome you are to his copy of the "Winters Wreath." I begin now to be anxious respecting your getting well & safely through the trial which I suppose is now speedily awaiting you: I am anxious because on such an occasion a friend cannot but feel so on the slightest grounds, but your favourable state of health, described in your last, & figure will stand you in good stead I doubt not in this adventure. Pray let me know the result as soon as is convenient. I suppose you will have to bid farewell to Miss Crumpe this month - pray deliver to her my best wishes; I trust she will be rewarded for all her anxieties. Mine are not so near their end as I thought then when I addressed you last. A letter which I received from Henry yesterday conveyed the intelligence that he will find it necessary to resign his situation of Secretary to the King's College after having held it a year. He says - "At the Committee yesterday I was desired to retire into the next room, and in my absence the Report of a Committee appointed to consider of a proper remuneration to the Secretary & Assistant Secretary was read & approved. It recommended a scale of £300 per annum to the first & of £250 to the second; but suggested that in the low state of the finances of the College the duties of the two offices might be well performed by one. That constant attendance was of course out of the question with me & I was to be requested to continue my services to the first

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of June. After the Committee my friend Lonsdale remained to tell me this, which I partly anticipated. I remarked immediately that the suggestion was very proper, & that Mr Smith might easily do the whole duty: &c" Such being the case all prospects of our marriage which rested on the salary as a foundation have vanished, & we are now just where we were last year. It has been pretty generally reported among my friends that we were to be married next August - this I regret, but I could not prevent it. Henry's friends spoke confidently on the subject. I however anticipated another obstacle to our union - the state of my poor friend's health - he has had another rheumatic attack, accompanied with the old affection in the eyes, & is now recovering strength & the flexibility of his limbs but very slowly. We must be patient & hope for the best, & we have both had so many disappointments that we ought to have acquired the virtue of fortitude. I must try to employ the long period which must elapse ere our union can be accomplished in acquiring all those dispositions & faculties which may fit me to render my beloved happy & comfortable, & may enable me to discharge my duties as a wife in a more effectual manner than I might have done ere I had been disciplined by sorrow & reflection.

At this time we are anxious about poor Miss Wordsworth - She has had a severe attack of internal inflammation; all danger is past - but Mrs Wordsworth is gone to Whitwick to nurse her. We shall not be quite easy till we hear she is going on well. Dora I am happy to say has got rid of her cough & seems to be a renovated creature. Mr Wordsworth is suffering from an attack in his eyes - his left eye is very much affected; this

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is most vexatious - we all hoped that the enemy was put to flight for ever. Pray when you write tell me anything that you may have heard respecting the Cromptons and Kosters: I wonder whether poor Charlotte K. is yet alive. Mama desires her kindest regards to you: she hopes soon to hear that you are a happy mother. Hartley is still at Grasmere going on much as usual. He & Mr. Townshend were great friends; Mr & Mrs T. seemed delighted with him, & the former thinks most highly of his talents. Our visit to Rydal is again put off on account of Miss W's illness & Mrs Wordsworth's absence. Derwent is going to town with his wife when his next holidays - the baby, which is described as quite a little beauty, with large dark eyes, and a rosy colour; will I suppose be left at Plymouth. Miss Trevenon's carriage will convey D. & Mary to town. Mama knows not now when we can visit Helston; we are most anxious to see my brother & his family, but it is impossible to fix any time for the journey at present. We must trust to the future.

The news has arrived today that the Bill for the Emancipation of the Catholics has passed the House of Peers; all we can do is to hope & pray that the measure may be productive of all those blessings & advantages which it's promoters anticipate, & that the evil consequences predicted by its opponents may be averted. For my part though I have been deeply interested in the course of public events & read the Debates diligently I would not join in discussions upon them in general company; the more I read the more convinced I was that a subject so intricate which has so many different bearings, & requires so much general knowledge

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of politics to be properly understood was far beyond my comprehension; and conversation on political topics leads to so much personality & violence that the more women keep out of it I think the better. Few women have opportunities of forming an independent opinion & they are not called upon, as men are to take an active part in these matters. John Wordsworth when last here, told me that Mr Wardell had been ill which I regretted much; pray remember me in the kindest manner to him: I hope poor Miss Louisa is in better health than when I last heard of her.

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We have lost our agreeable friends the Townshends. They give us hopes that they will return to us next Summer. Herbert Hill who spent the winter here is gone to Oxford. My Uncle Aunt & Cousins are go ing to the Isle of Man in May. Mama & I would go to Rydal then, but we do not like to leave Aunt Lovell. We are reading the "Fair Maid of Perth" which you doubtless devoured when it first came out: We are delighted with it; the Courtly scenes are spirited, & the whole story is very interesting: Sir Walter's genius seems quite almost to shine forth as of yore in this tale, though some of his first novels are still unequalled. I have heard lately from Julia Austey - she talks of divers marriages but not a word of her own. I wish E May would take unto herself a suitable spouse. Believe me dearest Elizabeth your truly affectionate friend Sara Coleridge I shall put this under cover to Mrs. Crumpe.

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<S. Coleridge 13 Ap 1829>

Mrs: Wardell

Bank

Chester.

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 23