BIB_ID
416515
Accession number
MA 1846.1
Creator
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834.
Display Date
Walmer, England, 1822 October.
Credit line
Gift of W. Hugh Peal, 1957.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 22.5 x 18.1 cm
Notes
Place of writing inferred from contents of the letter and date of writing from published letter cited below which dates the letter to "Early October 1822."
Provenance
Gift of W. Hugh Peal, 1957.
Summary
Describing the physical surroundings, his daily routine and discussing, in detail, the state of his health; describing Walmer saying "It seems to me the healthiest Spot, I ever sojourned on;" describing his sleepless nights, his troubles with his bowels and the regimen he is trying to follow saying "... have abdicated Apples, & taken to my Milk in lieu of Bread and cheese and the hard Table-ale of this district, a beverage which can be harmless to the Iron-gutted alone. Nevertheless, I am disposed to flatter myself, that this is afflictive in the Sufferance rather than alarming as a symptom : for disturbed and even distressful as my Night-season is, I rise refreshed, and without the faintness, sickness and phlegm-cough that were sure, more or less, to follow on my deeper Sleeps and Pain-furloughs at home - and I do not feel, or in a very diminished degree, the craving for Snuff at any time, or for Wine after dinner so that I trust, that I shall be able to bring myself back to the habit of three glasses as my maximum with more confidence than I dared entertain if any great effort of Self-conquest were necessary. - Hitherto, I have not attempted any Brain-work. On the contrary, I have tried to keep my mind as composed and vacant, as possible - excluding even day-dreams & attending to whatever is present to my Senses, and only as long as it is present - but I feel my head clearing up, & hope to wear it as unconsciously as I used to do - before poor ---forced his way into it from the heart upward. On Thursday, however, I propose to begin work in good earnest - my Logic, to wit. - And so much of I myself I. - I shrink, like a burnt Quill from the thought of disturbing you with any inquiries respecting Hartley, and would fain confine his name to my Prayers. But I might suggest (in the form of a Query at least) the propriety of calling in Pump Court on his Cousin, should you go to town - or if there were any chance of a letter reaching Hartley via Taylor and Hesse, to remind him of his promise to his Brother, and the necessity of conveying an authority to Mr. John Coleridge to give an order for the 30 or 40£ if he means to keep the promise?" remaining portion of the manuscript is missing.
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