Letter from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Coleorton, to Hartley Coleridge, 1807 April 3 : autograph manuscript signed.

Relating, in detail and at length, expectations for Hartley's behavior during their visit to Coleridge's brother, the Rev. George Coleridge; saying "In all human beings good and bad Qualities are not only found together, side by side as it were; but they actually tend to produce each other - at least, they must be considered as twins of a common parent, and the amiable propensities too often sustain and foster their unhandsome sisters...This is sufficient proof, that mere natural qualities, however pleasing and delightful, must not be deemed Virtues, until they are broken in and yoked to the plough of reason...You are by nature very kind and forgiving, and wholly free from Revenge and Sullenness - you are likewise gifted with a very active & self-gratifying fancy, and such a high tide & flood of pleasurable feelings, that all unpleasant and painful Thoughts and Events are hurried away upon it, and neither remain on the surface of your memory, or sink to the bottom into your Heart..In like manner this power, which you possess, of shoving aside all disagreeable reflections, or losing them in a labyrinth of day-dreams, which saves you from some present pain, has on the other hand interwoven into your nature habits of procrastination, which unless you correct them in time (& it will require all your best exertions to do it effectually) - must lead you into lasting Unhappiness;" explaining to him that his Uncle George is very strict and warning him "...against those bad Habits, which I and all your friends here have noticed in you - And be assured, I am not writing in anger, but on the contrary with great Love, and a comfortable Hope, that your Behaviour at Ottery will be such as to do yourself and me and your dear Mother, credit. First then I conjure you never to do any thing of any kind when out of sight which you would not do in my presence. What is a frail and faulty Father on earth compared with God, your heavenly Father? But God is always present. Specially, never pick at or snatch up any thing, eatable or not. I know, it is only an idle foolish Trick; but your Ottery Relations would consider you as a little Thief - and in the Church Catechism picking and stealing are both put together, as two sorts of the same Vice - 'and keep my hands from picking and stealing.' And besides, it is a dirty trick; and people of weak stomachs would turn sick at a dish, which a young "Filth-paw" had been fingering. Next, when you have done wrong, acknowledge it at once, like a man. Excuses may shew your ingenuity, but they make your honesty suspected. And a grain of Honesty is better than a pound of Wit. We may admire a man for his cleverness; but we love and esteem him only for his goodness - and a strict attachment to Truth, & to the whole Truth, with openness and frankness and simplicity is at once the foundation-stone of all Goodness, and no small part of the super-structure. Lastly, to do what you have to do, at once - and put it out of hand. No procrastination - no self-delusion - no 'I am sure, I can say it - I need not learn it again' &c &c - which sures are such very unsure folks, that 9 times out of ten their Sureships break their word, and disappoint you. Among the lesser faults I beg you to endeavor to remember, not to stand between the half opened door, either while you are speaking or spoken to. But come in - or go out - & always speak & listen with the door shut. - Likewise, not to speak so loud, or abruptly - and never to interrupt your elders while they are speaking - and not to talk at all during Meals. - I pray you, keep this Letter; and read it over every two or three days. Take but a little Trouble with yourself : and every one will be delighted with you, and try to gratify you in all your reasonable wishes. And above all, you will be at peace with yourself, and a double Blessing / to me, who am, my / dear, my very dear Hartley, /most anxiously / your fond Father;" adding, in a postscript, "I have not spoken about your mad passions, and frantic Looks & pout-mouthing; because I trust, that is all over."