BIB_ID
416536
Accession number
MA 2204.16
Creator
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834.
Display Date
London, England, 1801 November 19.
Credit line
Purchased from James Richard Scarlett, 8th Baron Abinger, 1962.
Description
1 item (3 pages, with address) ; 18.5 x 11.3 cm
Notes
Coleridge gives only "Thursday Morning" for the date of writing. However, the letter has been endorsed "Nov. 19, 1801" and this date also appears on the postmark. In 1801, November 19th fell on a Thursday. See the published edition of the correspondence, cited below, for additional information.
Coleridge gives the place of writing as "25, Bridge Street, Westminster," Southey's lodgings in London.
This collection, MA 2204, is comprised of 41 letters from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to William Godwin, written between 1800 and 1823. See the collection-level record for more information (MA 2204.1-41).
Address panel with postmarks: "Mr Godwin / Polygon / Somers' Town."
Coleridge gives the place of writing as "25, Bridge Street, Westminster," Southey's lodgings in London.
This collection, MA 2204, is comprised of 41 letters from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to William Godwin, written between 1800 and 1823. See the collection-level record for more information (MA 2204.1-41).
Address panel with postmarks: "Mr Godwin / Polygon / Somers' Town."
Provenance
Purchased, via the London dealer Constance A. Kyrle Fletcher, from James Richard Scarlett, 8th Baron Abinger, in 1962 as a gift of the Fellows.
Summary
Saying that he arrived in London late on Sunday evening and how long he will stay depends on his health; adding that at the moment he feels "miserably uncomfortable;" attempting to arrange a meeting with Godwin; saying that he had planned to walk to Somers' Town, "but I saw so many People on Monday and walked to & fro so much, that I have been ever since like a Fish in air, who, as you perhaps know, lies panting & dying from excess of Oxygen;" writing that this is a "great change from the society of W. & his sister - for tho' we were three persons, it was but one God - - whereas here I have the amazed feelings of a new Polytheist, meeting Lords many, & Gods many - some of them very Egyptian Physiognomies, dog-faced Gentry, Crocodiles, Ibises, &c - tho' more odd fish, than raræ aves;" discussing possible ways and times for meeting up; adding "I write like a Valetudinarian ; but I assure you, that this morning I feel it still more;" sending Southey's compliments.
Catalog link
Department