Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Hampstead, to Elizabeth Wardell (nee Crumpe), at Bank, Chester, dated 25 February 1831. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 27.

Hampstead

Feb 25 1831

My dearest Elizabeth

Thank you for two nice kind interesting letters written since my confinement which increase my wish that we were neighbours instead of correspondents - I am sure we should agree now we are parents & wives as well as we used to do when single; I should feel no dread of the intimacy which our living within an easy walk would create between two old acquaintances - we should take an interest in each other's concerns I believe without censoriousness or ill judged interference; indeed there has always appeared to me to be a congeniality in our tempers which would preclude all danger of unpleasant collision. I am greatly obliged dearest by your offer of the book - I do not possess it & shall be glad to do so, especially from you. My method is to listen to all the various opinions of experienced persons or approved books medical or otherwise which are so lavishly poured upon a mother, with her first child, & from them, & from my particular experience of the constitution & habits of my own infant to draw my own conclusions - on no subject I think is there a greater diversity of opinions & practices than that of the conduct of a nursery & on no subject does female vanity shine forth more conspicuously than on that of children & the management of them; every mother thinks her way the path in which you should go & I am daily reminded of that arch fable the old man, his son, & his ass & how necessary it is to come to the old man's conclusion that by our own judgement our own affairs ought to be regulated. I long to compare notes with you my dear on this & other interesting subjects, and doubt not that the general tone of our

[page break (2)]

opinion & feelings would harmonize well together though particular shades & tints here & there might differ: which would not prevent the whole picture from being in keeping.

Talking of pictures reminds me of Hartley's last article in Blackwood, "Ignoramus on the fine Arts" - I am sure it would please you: there will be a continuation of it in the next number: H's sonnets in the "Winter's Wreath" have been vastly admired - my Husband has the highest opinion of Hartley's poetical genius - but laments that he is not more studious & does not take a higher flight & emancipate himself from the shackles of a review & magazine style: mama desires me to say that the "Prometheus" you kindly lent is safe with her and shall be sent you by the first safe opportunity: Hartley in his last to us mentioned his intention of writing soon to you, but you know what place will be paved by that poor dear fellow's intentions, a letter from him even to those nearest & dearest to him is a swallow in early spring. Well he is going on as well as we now expect him to do - his deviations are not so frequent as they were & he gains a little money; the bitterness of regret & disappointment in regard to him is now [[?]][assunged] & I am thankful for all his sweet redeeming qualities & the love & interest he still excites & [[?]] in many kind & sensible bosoms - your's among the rest I trust my dear Elizabeth. Derwent whom I had not seen for eight years ran up to Highgate for a fortnight's visit this Christmas & gave us as

[page break (3)]

much of his time as he could spare: we thought each other's faces little altered but the voice of each was strange to the other's ear: my face in the last eight years must have undergone some physical change but the countenance which abides longest in the memory gives more individuality than even features & complexion. Derwent is a good amiable creature & generally respected & beloved no young man has warmer friends than he; [Reads] & Maceanley, two young men who have just made their debut in Parliament are among the number & I think his intimate friends are mostly persons of worth & intellect; his wife is much admired & liked - she is warm & overflowing in her manners, very cheerful, & strongly attached to her husband; her person is striking & handsome but not what it was when she was first married for she has undergone much trying illness since that time; the sweet [Derrybino] is a black-eyed blooming intelligent little fellow thought a great [bea] u ty by all Helston; he was backward in walking and ta[] talking but has a most expressive countenance and a gentleman who was here the other day said he thought him the finest boy of his age he ever saw; he was two years old last October. I am charmed with all you say about your sweet little girl; mama gives me such accounts of her that I long to see her which indeed I should do for your sake, were she not half so pleasing & pretty as I am told she is.

I should like much to see Mrs Jackson & her little one - how does she admire such quick work & has she a good heart about it? I am glad dear Loui

[page break (4)]

sa is rather better & give my love & best wishes to the poor dear sufferer & remember me to Sophia and all your family. As to the latter (Sophia I mean) were she engaged to be married you would be close as wax. I know on the subject, so that it is in vain for me to ask whether she has yet [suited] on any amiable swain nor am I entitled to inquire how many gents have been rejected. I may however tell you of Edith's engagement which perhaps you have already heard of as it is now no secret. After a winter's consideration she brought out the welcome affirmative mono-

[page break (2 crossed writing)]

syllable to a Mr Warter - a young clergyman who had been spending the summer at Keswick, & who though not the stylish man of the world whom Edith would once alone have favored is I am convinced both in his circumstances & personal character likely to make her happy. His family residing near Shrewsbury; is genteel his fortune too small to marry upon at present, but he will not be destitute of it altogether; his abilities are good, his manners agreeable & his opinions tastes & feelings of a remarkably refined and elevated sort: he is neither handsome nor plain, & rather younger than his future wife, but looks older: my uncle visited his parents on his way to Keswick & was highly pleased with them; Mr Warter himself is now chaplain to the Embassy at Copenhagen & will probably be two years longer abroad - a separation to which the young pair are reconciled in the thought of the advantages likely to accrue from it.

My darling is crowing away up stairs & will soon expect my company I know but in the mean time I must tell you a little about him: for the first month or so he was voted an ugly but fine child - now some people begin to tell mama that he is pretty & he certainly is a large flourishing forward baby - He will not be a handsome man, but I should not wonder if he were to be agreeable - His eyes are [thought]

[page break (3 crossed writing)]

like mine, but the rest of his face is in my opinion on the mould of his father's. For nearly three months I suckled him entirely - now he is fed once a day with a little thin biscuit powder that he may be the more easily weaned - he sleeps all night and is suckled about seven times in the day - he never goes above two hours when he is awake without the breast, except the one time when he is fed. He has gone well through the process of vaccination, & has hitherto been a picture of health - but I know how precarious the health & life of an infant are & do not build much upon it. He is only taken out on very mild days; many people think an infant derives little benefit from the air before it can take exercise & advise me against sending him out. I cannot however help thinking that the air must be useful when not too keen, but a day which is perfectly comfortable to a person walking may be very starving to an infant in arms. I wish I had time to write more to you on these subjects my dear friend, and should be very glad to hear your opinion upon them I am busy now in short coating the darling. Mama's presence is the greatest comfort & pleasure to me - she is with us for an indefinite time. She is very well on the whole but has her trials [occasionly] spite of her good constitution Bertha Southey is now for

[page break (4 crossed writing)]

a week with Mrs. Gee at Hendon; she is a dear girl and though not handsome, may be considered elegant and stylish; Indeed all my dear friends at Greta hall hold has high a place in my heart and mind as formerly, & I believe will ever do so. Fanny now Lady Patteson, sets off for her dear Ottery to day; I grieve to say that she is looking extremely [[?]] unwell - the [[?]] excitement of her London life & her June prospects, which as she has four fine children already are to be regretted have sadly pulled her down, to run away with the bloom which she brought from the Lakes. I see I must cover the other page of this sad scrawly letter.

[page break (1 crossed writing)]

I have not yet said a word about my dear husband - he is in good health and spirits, but I am afraid the fatigue & irksomeness of his long [choppy][sallies] from his Chamber (Number 1 New Square Inn) hither will oblige us to settle in Town at last which I shall deeply regret on many accounts. His "Introduction to the Greek Classics" has been praised in all the Reviews & the other literary efforts of his have met with success. He was lately called to Ottery to attend the funeral of his good aunt Mrs. Brown, who had been a second mother to him in his childhood. This lady left a large fortune to her sister, Henry's mother, which renders us rather more easy in regard to the future though it does not increase our current income. I am very well myself, & could not be persuaded to have my child fed three times a day though I was threatened with all sorts of weakness & poorliness if I did not. I have an excellent appetite & feel quite strong & well - but am certainly not fat, though far from being miserably thin I eat plenty of meat take half a pint of ale at an early dinner, and a little spirit & water at night. Now & then I add a glass of port wine, or a little beer to this diet: I am particular in refraining from prohibited things, & baby's bowels are in excellent order. We have seen some what of the Wordsworths though not as much as we could wish since they have been in the South. The bard is vigorous as ever in mind & body - I wish my dear father had half his strength in the latter ways though his mind does not fail yet. With our best regards to Mr Wardell I remain, my dearest, yours truly affectionate

S.C.

Mrs Wardell

Bank

Chester

---

Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 27