Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Greta Hall, to Elizabeth Crumpe, at Queen Anne Street, Liverpool, dated 19 October 1825. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 10.

Greta hall

October 19 - 1825

My dear Miss Elizabeth

Though I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you since my last stupid scrawl from Rydal which certainly did not deserve one of your agreeable long letters in return, yet I do not like to remain so long without intercourse with you, & it is this feeling, and not any superabundance of news or other interesting epistolary materials, which induces me to address you at this time. You will be surprized perhaps to see me date from Gretahall, and wonder what prevents me from putting my long projected southern journey in execution, especially when I tell you, that my eyes, for which my friends were anxious that I should have medical advice though somewhat stronger, are still far from well. The different accidents that from time to time have delayed my visit would take up too much of my paper were I to attempt giving you an account of them; suffice it to say that I now consider it fortunate that I had not settled to leave home this winter, unless I could have gone soon enough to escape the hooping cough, which I have now had for near six weeks and which I do not expect to be quite free from for many more. My cousins except Edith, are in the same plight, but they none of them have suffered as much as myself, owing I suppose to their less advanced ages. the disorder is not a dangerous one, but it certainly is very distressing & painful: - it is accompanied by so many pains and aches, & miserable sensations, that really during the last five or six weeks I have suffered

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more bodily discomfort than I ever remember to have done in my life before Now however I hope the semblance of the disorder is past, & as persons of no age are secure from its attacks I am glad I have gone through it. According to the advice of Mr: Carr, whose judgement I am led to think highly of I have for the last fortnight or more been confined to [two] rooms the temperature of which is kept as equable as possible & restricted to a complete vegetable diet I really think this plan has been of service; but as for all the boasted remedies I cannot say I have derived much benefit from them: A blister or any external application that will inflame or irritate the skin certainly allays the violence of the cough. The disorder in my case has been aggravated by the circumstance of my cutting my wise teeth from which I have suffered much pain during the last three weeks today they are somewhat better.

From Dora you have doubtless heard that Mr & Mrs Wordsworth & Miss Hutchison are now at Coleorton & that Mrs T. Hutchinson is gone home with improved health. The bard of Rydal Mount must have great pleasure in walking about the beautiful winter garden which he planned & planted, & has immortalized in one of his most lovely sonnets Some beautiful verses of his an inscription to the memory of Sir George's poetical ancestor, are [[-?-]] engraven on a stone tablet and [[?]] in another part of the grounds Interesting as the place is however it cannot taking prospect into the account, compare with the poet's own residence at Rydal Mount; the two Dorothies & Willy are now its sole inhabitants, but they will soon be joined by Bertha, whom they kindly invited for sake of change of air, which is recommended to hooping coughers, as well as for that of her agreeable company. The said young

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lady returned to us in the spring, in May after a years absence much improved in appearance & manners, & grown the tallest of the family, except of course her good papa. He rejoined his [longing] family in August after a tour in Holland, from which he derived much gratification. At Leyden he was laid up with [[?]] in his foot, occasioned by the bite of an insect and which he is not quite free from yet: the family whose home was his home during his detention were so kind & agreeable, & he gained as much information concerning the language, manners & customs of the country while among them that he was scarce able to regret the accident that kept him so long under their roof. On his return to Keswick he was accompanied by his fair truant daughter, who had not seen her native hills for nearly two years. You may imagine how interesting our meeting must have been, & how much we have had to talk about ever since but I believe poor Edith's pleasure was not wholly unmixed she suffered much in parting from Lady Malet and other dear friends, whom she had been in the habit of continually seeing during her long residence in the South, and this dear native vale of ours had one grievous defect in it's cruel distance from London & the Southern counties where most of our friends & connections reside. The extreme monotony too of this place, & the now almost total want of society can be no agreeable change to my fair coz after the round of gaieties she has been engaged in, & the flattery & admiration she has everywhere met with, & which render a crowded scene so fascinating to young ladies, however she bears the change better than I expected, & has so many elegant & useful employments for her clever fingers that I hope the fiend Ennui will be kept at

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arm's length.

Of your old friend Hartley I have little to tell you he goes on writing for different publications, & gaining money in that way which I hope he will persevere in as I fear he will never be able to support himself by his school, his friend [[?]] has recommended him a pupil, a boarding one who is to pay rather a high sum; but this matter is not settled and as this is the case I should not have mentioned it to any one not a relation You understand that the pupil will be Mr Suart's but of H. will of course derive benefit from teaching him the classics. but you whom I know to be kindly interested in H's welfare. A little volume of poems from his pen will shortly make their appearance; - most of the contents I believe you are already acquainted with. Derwent has left Plymouth for the situation of Classical Assistant in the Institution of the Rev.d Matthew Lownes near

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Ashburton the situation is retired and beautiful, inferior only to this place in point of scenery, the family he resides with most friendly and agreeable he has the advantage of horse exercise, a higher salary, and older boys to instruct than he had at Plymouth, which of course he prefers He talks of coming to see us next summer; - anxiously do I hope this may be accomplished, as it is now six years since we have met for more than a few days; & it would be most fortunate if you should happen to visit the Lakes about the same time; - in that case we must meet some how or other. Several artists at P. were desirous to take Derwent's picture; - one has taken a portrait of him in academical costume, leaning on a monument &c. It is a fine drawing, & was in the Plymouth Exhibition. We miss our old neighbours the Calverts very much: their house is now tenanted by some an agreeable young Irish couple, but new acquaintance can never replace old ones. Our old comrade Mary Stanger is now the happy mother of a strong thriving little girl, her father & Raisley in France, her mother with her, & her eldest brother studying physic in Town: My dear cousin Mrs. Patteson, whom I was to have visited this winter; has also got a dear little baby daughter John Ball talks much of my cousin in Barbadoes: - he was united last week to Miss Rewnell, the Dean of Winchester's daughter, a very amiable and accomplished person of a suitable age &c. about thirty. His Secre-

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tary as he is called in the papers, is Mrs: P's brother Henry, who went abroad for his health & is returned with it re-established. He gave a ball ere his departure from Barbadoes, of which there appeared a long account in the papers. My cousin John whom I was also to have spent some time with, is now Editor of the Quarterly Review, -

We have just got the Crusaders expect a great treat in the perusal of them Sir W. Scott called here after his Irish Tour with his daughter who is shortly to be married & his son-in-law. Mr Wordsworth called here with them & of the three bards there present, Sir Walter struck me as much the least bardlike: he is more like an old Admiral than a romance writer & poet. Lockhart is handsome but looks satirical. Sir James Macintosh & his daughter have been here lately I could not see them on account of my cough, but am told Miss M. is an agreeable unaffected girl, but not handsome. Miss Scott has fine black eyes & hair, but has not a good figure or elegant features. Rotheleu by Galt, one of the immerous Imitation of the Scotch Novelist, is an interesting work "London in the Olden Time" is a collection of pleasing short tales somewhat in the same style. My father's new work "Aids to Reflection" has been out some time: the old complaint of obscurity, & too great profundity will [[-?-]] doubtless be made against it, but a great proportion of it must be intelligible, and I should think interesting to any body. I hope Mr. and Mrs Crumpe & all your dear sisters are well: I was grieved to hear rather an indifferent account of Miss Louisa's health in the summer,

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but she has been visiting since that I believe, and was able I hope to enjoy herself. Oh! this cruel damp climate! few constitutions are able to stand it: how much misery is caused by want of health; - that and want of money are the two banes of existence - but I will not enter upon this painful subject. I hope my dear friend, you are well and comfortable in body & mind, though alas! I rather hope than expect it the latter; I long to have some conversation with you on the subject.

The more I see of the world the more I see of discontent & unhappiness, and there are few young women of my acquaintance whose situation & circumstances are exactly to their wish: few are so fortunate in their love affairs as my cousin Fanny & my friend Mary few so free from vexation & disturbance in a single state as dear Dora - long may she retain her present peaceful state"fancy free"as her father exaltingly declares she is. For my part my prospects are all confined to the Vale of single Blessedness - no outlet can I discern except such as I should disdain to take: I therefore am endeavouring to cultivate a taste for the peaceful charms of the region where I am destined to reside: it has charms, dear Elizabeth quiet groves and pleasing flowerets, did not cruel Cupid play mass diversions, and render the place a scene of regret & repining, & instead of calmness and content. But Cupid, by judicious management may be restrained, though not altogether, banished - and as for the terrible word Old Maid which

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frightens so many young Ladies into foolish matches, I ask myself whether "Old Wife" sounds much more pleasingly. No, it is to be old that is the evil, and there is no other way to look age in the face without dismay & almost despair, but to fortify oneself with religion and it's fruits, an innocent and as far as [in] one has a useful life. And old Maids may be as useful as married persons. - perhaps more so in this age of too increasing a population But this is mere preaching, which my paper cuts short to your comfort. Edith & mama desire very kind remembrances to you. Pray give mine to your parents & sisters, & brothers, & believe me dearest Elizabeth, Your afflicted friend Sara Coleridge. Excuse this dreadful scrawl.

Elizabeth Crumpe

Queen Anne Street

Liverpool

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 10