Letter from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, place not specified, to John James Morgan, 1814 May 23 : autograph manuscript signed with initials.

Relating, at length, his misadventures one evening, in the company of William Hood and Henry Daniel, as he was searching for books he had borrowed from Sir Richard W. Russel, had too much to drink, was ill for two days following the episode but was cared for by Daniel; adding "Thus, you see, that it was quite out of my power to meet you at Bath - But I trust, that by exact care another Week may enable me to report Progress in person. But I am feeble beyond your conception, not indeed in momentary strength, but in constitution - Yet I have not been altogether idle for the last fortnight. I have my doubts, whether this pantomime Trick of pretending to give a British Constitution to those Hypanthropes, or quasi-humans, the French, will proceed even thro' a first Trial. But our Parliament at home, or the faction of Landholders, are mad or ideotic -. The Corn Law Debates are more disgraceful than even the Bullion - I again affirm, what I have often affirmed, that I take away from the legislature the Merchants & Manufacturers, & I will stand on Blackfriars or Westminster Bridge, & take the first 800 decently drest men that pass over, & would pledge my life for more intellect, more real knowledge, than is congregated in the two Houses.- It cannot be otherwise. - I should like to know, what Rickman says on the Subject - The Papers, I understand, preserve a profound silence on the subject;" suggesting that if he can find a copy in the Bath Circulating Library of the Life of the Rev'd Mr. Richard Baxter "...by all means take it home with you - It is cram full of wisdom, information and interest, as an egg is of meat - Indeed, no man can have a just idea of the Period from Charles the first to James the 2nd, who has not read it;" asking, in a postscript, if Mrs. Morgan knows "Mrs Daniel - Miss James, that was?" who spoke very highly of Mrs. Morgan; describing her beautiful six-month old daughter and relating how Mrs. Daniel told him, with good humor, that though she was anxious to meet him "...she was very angry at me : for that the few Hours, that Daniel used to be able to give her of his company, 'he must go & sit a little with Coleridge.' - I mention these things, simply because now it will give you pleasure to learn that spite of calumny, & spite of afflicting & degrading Truths, there are yet those who are kind to me as much beyond my expectation as my deserts."