Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Greta Hall, to Elizabeth Crumpe, in Liverpool, dated 19 February 1821. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 4.

Greta hall

Feb 19. 1821

My dear Miss Elizabeth

If it had not been for the "economical opportunity" of getting this letter conveyed to you, I should have been tempted to defer writing till greater leisure, & matter of more interest than any I have at present to communicate: should have enabled me to render it more worthy your perusal: for the few stupid lines I am now able to send you will be no proper answer to your long, & truly kind epistle. Since my brother's letter to his friend George was so mysterious a concern, I shall make a short extract from one of his home epistles, which the kind interest you have uniformly expressed in him & his concerns encourages me to trouble you with. "In regard to my Christmas examination, I have the satisfaction of informing you that I took the first class; so far a subject of congratulation that it would have been very easy to have missed it, & at the same time not a little discreditable; - else as an honour it is not very splendid, being shared with fifty out of less than twice that number, my contemporaries, & fellow-fresh-men at St John's. There are three classes, of which the first alone can obtain the first class at midsummer: next Xmas they have another change: & those who retain their situ-

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ation in the first class receive a prize in books." Derwent frequently mentions the Mr: Kennaways whom I believe you know something of: the eldest he thinks a very gentlemanly man, & the latter, who is of the same College as himself, a clever fellow; Mr: Townsend, whose name alone you are acquainted with, has introduced him to a most delightful, sentimental friend of his, about whom he writes in so romantic a style that I shouldn't dare to tell you half what he says for fear of exposing him to your ridicule. He tells us that Hartley has got a pupil at Highgate, and is advised by some to prepare himself for the Church, & by others to study the law. We were all sorry to hear that dear Miss Louisa has been unwell lately: but you are very fortunate in the opportunity of such good advice, & I hope that D. Traill has by this time pronounced your sister quite recovered. I had heard from Julia Anstey of your eldest brother's journey & hope the climate of that place may agree with his health, & that he may be benefitted by his travels. We have lately been much distressed by news of the death of our dear friend Mr Nash, which happened the day nine weeks that he left our house: three summers spent in his company had endeared him so to us all that the intelligence conveyed no common grief; for my part I did not recover my spirits for a long time after & now whenever I cast my eyes at the pictures with which he adorned our walls, (particularly that of himself) & at the songs which I have so often played to his voice I am affected by the most painful feelings of melancholy & regret: but let me quit this subject for something less gloomy.

I perfectly agree with you in your strictures on external loveliness.You will think me trite perhaps if I say that beauty unaccompanied by mental endowments is a mere toy "that wears but till the gilding frets away;"as your favourite poet has it. In regard to the fair one who was the occasion of these remarks I am so persuaded that fortune is all in all with the young men of this day that I am not much surprized

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at her having reached nineteen (is not that her age?) without having met any youth who has seriously promised, for the sake of her personal attractions to share all his worldly goods with her: but that no one has ever paid her attentions enough to make the world say so, that is indeed a most uncommon circumstance. But I need not go farther than Miss Stanger to learn that "neither form nor feature" are alone sufficient to inspire feelings of admiration, much less of tenderness. Pygmalion was the only man that ever fell in love with a statue, & that was one of his own making you know. Pray remember me to the Miss Laces when you see them: is Ambrose as green as ever. I was highly gratified by the accounts you gave me of Dr Crompton's amiable family, & at the prospect of domestic felicity that one dear member of it seems likely to enjoy. I do not know anything of Mr Hutton but if he be deserving of his good fortune, I am sure that both he & his bride have every earthly chance for happiness: & although men are so scarce & valuable I really do wonder that she & her sisters were not married before: I am sure it must be their own faults though: this I say in justice to mankind.

We are reading Kenilworth, & do not like it. My Uncle thinks it inferior to the Recess, & novel on the same subject: the heroine, as usual, with the exception of Rebecca, & J. Deans, is very uninteresting: & as far as I have read there is not an agreeable character in the book: there is very little incident, & the inn scene with which it commences is in my opinion the best part: perhaps I may like it better as I proceed; I hope I may, for it is treason to say a word against the mysterious author of Waverly. I read an account of the Earthquake in Blackwood, which is quite as much as I ever intend to read of it, which will show you that I agree with you in thinking it a sorry performance. What a deadly feud has lately arisen between Lockhart, a writer in this publication, & the editor of the London magazine which we take in! How frightened Mrs L. must have been when her husband was on the point of fighting a duel! Pray

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remember me to Miss Ritchie, & the Miss Lawrences if you see them. I was very glad to hear from Miss M. Crompton that the Miss Kosters were succeeding so well in their school, & had got twelve pupils. Poor things! one misfortune after another has so crowded in upon them that it gives one heartfelt pleasure to hear of their prospering in any of their undertakings. No young women can be better fitted for governesses than they are. Louisa's health is the only draw back. Mama begs to unite with me in kindest remembrances to your whole family: Edith too sends her love to you, & Sophia & all your sisters that she is acquainted with. Tell Miss Louisa that I hope she will some time suffer me to renew my correspondence with her, & believe me my kind friend your truly affectionate S.C.

I can't close this letter without somewhat retracting my opinion of Kenilworth: there is a scene in the second volume, Queen Elizabeth's audience to the rival Earls, that greatly redeems it in my opinion: but certainly the story is not an interesting one. Have you read the Abbot? We intend reading it as soon as we've finished Kenilworth. (writing at 90 degrees)

Miss Elizabeth Crumpe.

Liverpool.

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 4