Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Grove, Highgate to Elizabeth Wardell (nee Crumpe), at 10 Erskine Street, Liverpool, dated 6 October 1827. WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 16.

Grove Highgate

Sat Oct 6 1827

My dear Mrs: Wardell

Now that the manner of my journey is arranged and a very eligible companion has presented himself I think it proper to inform you of this though I fix the exact time of my coming to you now, but it will certainly be in four or five weeks; - Mr Chance, a gentleman residing here, & intimate with my father, is going to Birmingham about that time; has offered to take me with him & give me a bed at his Father's house, so that I shall avoid the journey by night- I shall perhaps stay a day at B. & in that case I hope to see our old friends the Lloyd's; - either that day or the next Mr Chance can send me on to Liverpool under the care of some fit person; from B. I will write to let you know the coach, it's hour of arrival & where it stops, in order to avail myself of Mr Wardell's kind offer of meeting me & conducting me to his house. I ought I suppose to let you know before I set off the time fixed for my journey - if I could as-certain those particulars then it could save you the trouble &c. of two letters. Perhaps as you know my visit is to be at the latter end of the month or the beginning of the next you will not want any longer notice than my letter from B. will give you.

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I write now to save you the trouble of making any more enquiries for a companion for me - Mr North would have been a very pleasant one, but with Mr Chance I feel quite at home - his wife is a cousin of our acquaintance Mrs: Gee & the Miss Lockyers - she is a sweet woman - The Lockyers have let their house & are now at Versailles for three months

I hope my dear friend You are enjoying all the musical & dancing gaities of the season, which is as dull in London as it is gay in Liverpool; - I assure you I shall enjoy a quiet visit with you a thousand times more than any thing of this kind: I have quite lost the little taste for gaiety I ever had. The tranquil pleasures of domestic life & books or conversation are what I now most enjoy; - by way of recreation I prefer seeing fine scenery, or what is interesting & rememberable in works of art, as pictures noble buildings &c to crowded rooms & smart assemblies - Certainly fine music is a great treat & I do own I regret not having heard [Pasta] & seen her friend [[?]] but the expense, late hours, & heat of the opera somewhat overbalance the pleasure. However there is a time for all things, & it is well I think in the course of one's life to know a little of every thing that is not iniminical or bad in it's consequences.

In writing to you I naturally turn to the subject of my brothers, you have always shewn

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so much friendly interest about them. Poor Hartley has not yet overcome his unhappy propensity, & still drinks, when he has an opportunity, more than his head will bear; - still he conducts himself respectably in every other point, is much noticed & liked by the gentlemen of the place & some of the Lakers, & is employed in writing, though he will not often use his pen on those articles which are most required: however if he will earn money in this way creditably at all we are thankful. He is now writing for Blackwood.

Derwent is just now at the height of happiness; - painting, furnishing &c a very comfortable house for the reception of a very sweet wife at Christmas. I believe he is looking now through the yellow part of a Claude Lorraine glass upon his family prospects; - but even to me who see with the naked eye they are exceedingly bright & sunny. His friend Mr Moultrie has addressed a poem to my sister-elect whom he thinks the most [[?]] hearted sweet maiden he ever saw - the very ideal of a poet's love - the stanza is "It will be a joy in after years That I've beheld thy face, Have seen thee in thy smiles & tears Thy goodness & thy grace". This opinion tallies with what I have heard from other quarters, so that I am quite happy on this subject

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You may imagine how I long to see her - I am going soon to write to her, & send her a copy of my Father's forthcoming new edition of all his poetical works, including the plays. I am happy to say that my dear good mother feels tolerably easy on the subject of D's marriage - which is really more than I expected - for the very word marriage for either of her children used to put her in a fright Mrs: Pridham, Mary's mother has written her a very nice letter giving an account of all the present proceedings. I believe my fair cousin Edith intends to be the earth-treading star at Bath.

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this winter I mean she thinks of going there, & I am sure such a girl as she must shine brightly enough whenever she appears. It is rather provoking that like the pair that shews the weather one should pop out as the other pops in of the two cousin friends but if Edith is ever allowed to leave Bath, or retains her present obduracy I trust we shall have a pleasant visit together next year. I hope your brothers are well - you did not tell me about the elder. - & whether he is married. My dear Henry's letters are the [[?]] comfort to me! In our former [[?]] we did not enjoy this blessing.

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Pray make my best compliments to Mr Wardell, & remember me very kindly to Mr & Mrs & the Miss Crumpes - and believe me

your very affectionate friend

Sara Coleridge.

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D. Coleridge 14 Oct, 1827

Mrs Wardell

10. Erskine Street

Liverpool

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 16