Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Greta Hall, to Mary Stanger (1804-1890), at St. Anne's Hill, Wandsworth, Surrey, dated 29 January 1829. WLMS Moorsom / 55 / 1 / 5

Greta hall

Jan 29 1829

My dear Mary

Your affecting letter to Edith received on Sunday gave us all a great deal to think about; on the same morning arrived our brother’s account of your sad though not unexpected loss. I need not tell you my dear Mary how sincerely we all sympathise in your grief & how much we feel for your poor dear mother; Mr Calvert’s declining health must have prepared her for the stroke and rendered her the more resigned to this dispensation. Mama was much affected at the news of her kind old neighbours departure from this anxious troublesome world; when he left Keswick he seemed quite a young man, his head was unblanched & he appeared to have many years of comfort and activity of mind and body in store!- I dreamt much of him last night, and never shall I forget his invariable kindness to me. But I will dwell no longer on this subject, which at present must disturb and distress you, though hereafter you many refer to it with a calm though melancholy pleasure. Pray give our best love to dear Mrs Calvert, & tell her when you find a fitting opportunity how much we sympathise in her sorrow.

You have had much to try you of late, my dear Mary, & I hope your calm & cheerful temper has stood you in good stead in the time of suffering and of anxiety: we were not aware that you had had the

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small-pox under so severe a form- vaccination seems now to be no security: the disorder is now prevailing at Keswick & has attacked vaccinated persons, and we are daily hearing cases of the kind and even of its recurrence after vaccin inoculation. Your blueness and the patchy appearance of your face will wear out in a few months: I hope you will regain your eyebrows too, but that is of less consequence. I think many persons lose a part of their eyebrows after illnesses of different kinds. I observe that our friend Mr Townshend has done so. I hope your eyelashes are not injured- Joshua would not like you to lose them. Pray remember me very kindly to him- I was sorry to hear from Henry who let me know how you were going on that he has been much indisposed; I do not wonder that anxiety should have had this effect on a frame naturally delicate; but I trust to see you both blooming again when I revisit the South; and dear little Mary too- I am glad she has gone on so well through all this trying season; a great and interesting change must have taken place in her since I visited Wandsworth.

John has doubtless told you of his friend Dr Southey's having lost his sweet Henry, the flower of his little flock, as my cousins declare he was; the eldest is a very clever child, but his health is exceedingly precarious, and Henry appears to have been altogether the most promising of the family. Mr Lynn says he hears that Mr Leathes is dying- I believe he is nearly seventy years old.

An influenza is prevalent here at

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this time and almost all the inhabitants of Greta Hall have had their share of it. Kate is suffering sadly from toothache and colds, coughs and rheumatism are quite the order of the house. The last month has certainly been more than commonly cold and the Lake is frozen over. I hear the little ones at Torrington Square are all in the whooping cough- I wish them well through it- poor Mary's headaches will not be improved by the incessant wailing she is doomed to hear and this added to her extreme[[-?-]]anxiety will pull her down I dare say.

Mr Wordsworth & Willy have been spending a week lately with us; the latter is soon going to Germany for two years to learn German & French & keep up his Latin & Greek; the former is a prey to anxiety about Dora whose unpleasant obstinate cough worries him dreadfully, and often drives him out upon the terrace when he would otherwise make one of the social circle. I suppose this cough has an ominous sound to him but I trust his apprehensions will prove groundless. Dora's digestion is certainly in a most deranged state, and she cannot walk for above half an hour without fatigue.

My little nephew at Helston has lately been christened by the name of Derwent Moultrie- Mr Grylls & Mr Borlase & Miss I Treasure kind neighbours of his (Derwent's) are the sponsors.

Hartley is still at Grasmere; he has been writing for different publications; we hear that he

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has been a good deal lately at Rydal Mount. This always gives us pleasure. Mr Wordsworth seemed quite recovered from the effects of his fall, except that a slight huskiness is perceptible in some tones of his voice. His eldest son is soon coming to take possession of his living. When will Raisley be ordained? he has our best wishes for his success in life; we feel no doubt of his being exemplary in his calling. Mr Wilson spoke most highly of him to us. I am glad your brother John had so much reason to be satisfied with his intercourse with the great man. I hope it will be of service to him hereafter. When you write pray mention William and say how he

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is going on. Mama and all the rest join in kindest regards to you and Joshua and dear Mrs Calvert. Kiss little Mary for us. Our childish adventures on hills and dales in the days of romping and climbing must be interesting enough to a person of her standing. Edith and I sometimes lau amuse ourselves with talking them over at present advanced age.

Believe me dear Mary your truly attached friend Sara Coleridge

My dear Mary will you give the inclosed note to Mrs Calvert. I conclude from what you say that she is with you. When you write pray tell us whether you had the secondary fever or not which is considered as dangerous and which is thought not to come on after vaccination. Adieu.

Mrs Joshua Stanger

St Annes Hill

Wandsworth

Surrey

Jany 1824 my father’s death

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Object summary: WLMS Moorsom / 55 / 1 / 5