Coleridge, Sara (1802-1852). - Letter, from Greta Hall, to Elizabeth Wardell (nee Crumpe), at Bank, Liverpool, dated 4 January 1828 (?). WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 18.

Greta hall

Decbr Janry 4

My dear Elizabeth

This letter shall not be sealed with black wax though I am going into mourning as it might rather alarm you: the truth is I have lost a very kind & sweet friend in Mrs: Henry Patteson, wife of John Patteson's elder brother & his first Wife's sister, as well as his cousin; this poor lady had shewn a great interest in my concerns & treated me with the greatest hospitality & even affection: my cousin Henry looked upon her as a sister and she had looked after him in his last illness when all his other female friends were away. Poor dear Mrs Henry Patteson - died of a strange internal complaint; till she was

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opened she was supposed to be in the family way. She has left a fondly attached husband to deplore her loss, and nine children the eldest not 13 years old. My thoughts have been much occupied with this sad subject of late; but poor Mr Patteson is not the only mourner among the connections of my friends: Mrs John Coleridge's sister is just dead after being forcibly delivered of a dead child; she died from mere exhaustion: her husband was at Exeter at the time of her death, whither he had removed from Clapton to manage one of the Branch banks which you so justly wish to oppose. He is now left with six or eight

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children I forget which. Mrs: John C. has been ill in consequence of agitation; - it is well she is not in the dangerous way, as I think we may call it, herself, as with her delicate health her life also might be sacrificed on this occasion. Poor Mrs HP's death no doubt was caused by her having born so many children; last Christmas she had nearly lost her life by a miscarriage. These sad events seem so to exemplify some of our remarks my dear Elizabeth in our comfortable conversations by the chimney ingle that I have enlarged on them perhaps more than enough to you. Before many months

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are over we shall in all probability lose our good Uncle George Coleridge: at his time of life & with his delicate health one should not so much regret the circumstance were it not for the grief of his wife & son, but they have the consolation of knowing that, as far as we can judge, he w is very fit to die.

We have heard three times from Edith since she left us: she had a miserable journey: and she and all in the coach were horribly afraid of being struck blind by lightening: however, she is now comfortably settled at

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Brinsop - found Dora looking well & in raptures at seeing her. The whole party have paid a visit at the Stowe. Mr Monkhouse's residence, and they have been excursionizing on the banks of the Wye at this time of year. I send these few lines by Mr Hutton at the end I will add his address at Liverpool, that if inclined & at leisure you might send me as many lines as you can afford by him. Will you tell your brother John that Mama thinks his twenty guineas ought by all means be secured to him, & she will send H. the money to pay the sum as soon as she conveniently can: still she must have some communication with Hartley on the subject. At present I am anxious that he should not be written to or disturbed, as mama's letters seem to have a deranging effect on his poor eccentric mind - so he says at least: I am in hopes he is now finishing the Article on Poetry & has sent off the first part & a note to Mr Smedley; how ever this is only hope as we have heard nothing from him, & only were informed by the Rydalians that he was at work when they last saw or heard of him: I would send you back the "Prometheus" & "Tea Table" but I shall have other opportunities, & have not quite done with them yet. O that he would finish the former as he promised! [[-?-]] In a letter to my mother Hartley says "well is it for you that you cannot conceive"

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"the spell that manacles the better will, and turns the very thoughts that should impel to virtuous industry into clogs & fetters - nay absolute impediments in the right course." Poor fellow! what would I give to emancipate him from these clogs & fetters! Derwent is happy at present; Hartley says his great comfort will be to see him & me so. I wish I could transcribe what he says about Jane Green, but I have scarce time to finish this. I believe I told you about dear D's wedding; he is full of the charms & virtues of his wife, the comfort and neatness of his house, & the kindness of his relations and friends. His cousin James augurs well of him as a good country parson: which is [[-?-?-]] anxious desire.

Mrs: Wardell

Bank

Liverpool

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Mama desires her very kind love to you: and always speaks of your disinterested kindness & friendliness to her children with great pleasure & every feeling of obligation. I trust we will meet again & renew those pleasant hours; (pleasant to me at least,) which we have spent together. Meantime remember me in the best manner to your excellent husband and to all your family, whose kindness I often think of and believe me dearest Elizabeth

Your much attached friend

Sara Coleridge

I hope Miss Briggem (I know not how to spell her name) is quite well now.

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Object summary: WLMS A / Coleridge, Sara / 18