Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from 10 Chester Place, to Edward Quillinan (1791-1851) (?), at an unstated address, dated 27 September 1850. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 67.

My dear Friend

I hoped to have heard today from Edy from Rydal - Perhaps I may this afternoon - I am glad the dear girl is away just now and in cheerful company & amid lovely scenes. It does me good refreshes me to think where she is and of all she is looking upon.

You may be surprised that I do not date from Mortlake. Alas! my unhappy nerves are got into a state of

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insurrection - I can't sleep - even in my every other night way at present, and am unfit to be from home. I regret this deeply. It may be the last time that I may have such an opportunity of enjoying dear Miss Fenwicks conversation & society. She told me when she was here on Tuesday, that Mr and Mrs Taylor wished her to make Mortlake more her home. She felt the affectionateness on their part & would like the plan in some respects, but could not give up Kelston Knoll on account of others. Mrs Tudor and

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poor Dopy, who will in all probability, at no distant time, be quite blind, as the decay of the optic nerve proceeds gradually & surely - want her more than her dear ones at Ladan House, who are overflowing with health & prosperity, with three such promising blooming children & their own health so well established, with all that agreeable friends & easy circumstances & a charming residence can contribute to make life go on velvetlishly - They are even fearfully well off at present. Thus she, ever thinking of others, wishes to reserve

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herself for the less prosperous reversing the proceeding of the Evil Evil One "He took from the Poor and gave to the Rich."

Mr de Vere came from Mr Spring Rice's to meet her here - and talked a bit with us both about the great engrossing subject

Miss F. thinks that your Church will have him - at least she says he is for ever turning to that subject & taking up that side. I don't feel so disposed to think that he will leave the Church of his Father - & of his Fathers, as she does - he reasons & philosophizes too much to decide as quickly as many do - He has lent me Newman's last discharge of artillery against the battered sides of our

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Reformed Church of England - and Manning on the Supremacy. Laurence thinks Mannings a miserably disproportioned feeble face, & marvels at Mr Taylor's admiration of him. I have been sitting to Laurence again - He thinks his last version of me the best.

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I have read Allie's pamphlet too. Gall & vinegar enough may be got from the two books to turn whole dairies full of the milk of human Christian love & kindness. Both are able - Newman's very superior & [Chinbe]. Mr Hutfield is come from Holland tell Edy full of admiration of the pictures especially the grand Adoration of the Lamb by Van [Eeyk] at St [Bavo's] Ghent.

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 67