tionate, and--if it did not look like a retort, how truly might I not add

Your obliged and grateful friend,

S. T. COLERIDGE. P. S.-Sheriff Williams is apparently a very worthy, and assuredly a very entertaining man. He gave us accounts, on his own evidence, of wonderful things respecting Miss M'Evoy and a Mr. De Vains of Liverpool; so wonderful as to threaten the stoppage even of my bank of faith.

I have just heard from Derwent, who is well; but I have not had time to decipher his villanous scrawl.

I wish it was possible for me to give even a faint notion of the splendid eloquence of my friend on this topic. The interest he took in this great question on all occasions, induced me to entreat repeatedly that he would imbody his views and opinions in a pamphlet, to be called "Thoughts on the Present Persecution;" but better, certainly more prudent, counsels prevailed.

On the conduct of Mr. Brougham in this case, he was accustomed to animadvert with great severity. His great and constant indiscretions, and, above all, an insincerity, which then seemed to have an object, but which greater experience has shown to arise from want of ballast, in short (why should I not say it?) from mental unsoundness, were at that time matters of deep regret to all right-minded men.

It is painful thus to speak of a man variously gifted, and possessed unquestionably of great talents; but it is needful to bear in mind that, though men of restless natures and irritable temperaments have frequently been the instruments of functional improvements, they are totally unsuited to times which require organic changes. If this be the case with regard to men who are restless from enthusiasm, or whose fermentation arises from the crude state of their minds, and respecting whom there is yet hope when experience shall have mellowed their convictions; what shall we say of those to whom time brings no improvement-age, no mental repose

It is the duty of all men who have calmly observed, meditated, and reflected, who are sufficiently near to be interested, and remote enough for quiet contemplation, to put their testimony on record; which, though it may not avail in the present times, will yet serve as a timemark for the future.

Yet I can never believe but that a man so variously gifted must, at some time or other, have had aspirations of a higher and purer nature than should seem possible, judging of the turmoil and turbulence of his latter career. Hear what is thought of this man by an accomplished foreigner. In a letter of Jacquemont's, written from the Himalaya, are the following reflections, which are but too just. "I have just read the sixteen immense columns of Lord Brougham's speech on the 7th Oct., 1831. What talents! but what a perverted use of talent. What a disagreeable kind of talent is that which disgusts the hearer instead of conciliating him. If I were a public man, I would study Brougham, not to resemble him. What is the use of that cutting irony, that bitter sarcasm, that supercilious pride? What is the use of those Greek and Latin verses ?"

I must also protest against the terms employed in speaking of the very extraordinary man lately lost to that country he so dearly loved, and for the welfare of which country, and those who lived upon it and by it, his last words were uttered.

A man more kind-hearted, more kindly, I never knew. That he was intolerant, turbulent, and domineering, I admit freely, but towards whom? To those only who were self-seekers, proud, narrow in their views, and, above all, to those who sought to oppress and degrade that great class from which he sprung, and with which he gloried to identify himself.

To the concluding portion of this letter it will be needless to point attention. Like every thing my friend wrote, it is for all time, and would be equally applicable in its spirit under any conceivable form of so

The American coachman, who, to the great surprise of Mr. Stewart, told him more of the practice and mode of teaching at the High School of Edinburgh than he knew himself, although educated* at that school, justly observed, that the two great principles which have divided and still divide mankind, are eternal, and not dependant upon the names with which they are associated. Substituting only the words "true Reformer" for "Whig" (for here the Whigs are not true Reformers), I know not a more just observation. “In truth, the parties of Whig and Tory are those of nature. They exist in all countries, whether called by those names, or by those of aristocrats and democrats, côté droit and côté gauche, ultras and radicals, serviles and liberals. The sickly, weakly, timid man fears the people, and is a Tory by nature; the healthy, strong, and bold man cherishes them, and is a Whig by nature." It is well that the people of England are not educated to any knowledge of their political rights, or the scandalous frauds of the past year would have met their fitting punishments. How long will the manly and mature intellect of this great mother, this great hive of nations, submit to the guidance of littérateurs and lordlings, who, by virtue of pretension and prescription alone, are held to be fit to govern nations, though there are few men in the present cabinet to whom a merchant would intrust a ship, a farmer employ as a bailiff, or a draper engage as an assistant, even were their services offered gratuitously.

When Lord Stanley was in America, it was necessary to speak of the General Postoffice: he did not know where it was; while a judge who was at the table pointed out its exact situation in Lombard-street, and evinced so much local knowledge, that Lord Stanley said," You must have been a long time in London, !”—“ I was never there in my life," was the reply.

See here the difference. The American had informed himself of that which he was not expected to know, which it was excusable in him not to know; while the aristocrat was ignorant of that which it was incumbent upon him to have known.

LETTER XII.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Saturday, Oct. 20th, 1820.

Doubtless nothing can be more delightful to me, independent of Mrs. Gillman's kind but unnecessary anxieties, than to go to Oxford with you. Nay, though it will be but a flight to and fro, with a sojourn but of two days, if so much, yet I should even ask it of you if I were quite sure, absolutely sure, that it would not inconvenience you.

But, in the fear of this, I could not ask or receive your companionship without some selfishness which would completely baffle itself.

I have not yet received an answer from Oxford respecting Dr. Coplestone's return to Oriel.

God bless you, my ever dear friend,

S. T. COLERIDGE.

Of this journey to Oxford I have a very painful recollection; perhaps the most painful recollection (one excepted) connected with the memory of Coleridge. Still I think that the journey was beneficial to his health, and that he was better for some weeks after his return.

"A single thought is that which it is from other thoughts, as the wave of the sea takes its form and shape from the waves which precede and follow it.”

"In the system of gravity, Newton only developed the idea of Kepler. He advanced a step, and there he fixed his followers. Kepler would have progressed, or have been stationary in act at least."

D 3

LETTER XIII.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Oct. 25th, 1820.

It will please you, though I scarcely know whether the pleasure is worth the carriage, to know that my own feelings and convictions were, from the very commencement of this unhappy affair, viz.-the terms proposed to the queen by Lord Hutchinson, in coincidence with your present suggestion, and that I actually began an essay, and proposed a sort of diary, i. e., remarks moral and political, according as the events of the day suggested them. But Mr. Gillman dissuaded me. Again, about five weeks ago I had written a letter to Conder, the editor of the Eclectic Review, and ci-devant bookseller, offering, and offering to execute, a scheme of publication, "the queen's case stated morally; 2, judicially; 3, politically." But again Mr. G. earnestly persuaded me to suppress it. His reasons were, first, that my mind was not sufficiently tranquil, in consequence of I.'s affair, to enable me to rely upon going through with the publication; secondly, that it would probably involve me with certain of my connexions in high life, and be injurious to Hartley and Derwent, especially the latter; with, thirdly, the small chance of doing any good, people are so guided by their first notions. To tell you the truth, Mr. G.'s own dislike to it was of more weight than all his three

reasons.

However, we will talk of the publication, if it be not too late, and at all events I will compose the statement. I pray you make no apologies for doing that which cannot but add to the esteem and affection with which I am most truly your friend, fraternally and paternally, S. T. COLERIDGE.

We shall soon see you?