Broome Pk., Betchworth, Surrey - BCB has seen what WW has said respecting Samuel Clarke and Coleridge. Clarke's moral philosophy does not seem much clearer than 'his a priori theological argument'. BCB does not make much of Coleridge's 'dreamy speculations on moral and theological subjects', and is pleased WW is in the same predicament. BCB is reading WW's lectures with the greatest interest ['Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy', new edn., 1862]. Those engaged in the pursuit of the moral sciences would be better if they first had their mind trained in the physical sciences: 'They would I apprehend be there taught to be more exact in their observation of facts, more careful in their inductions and at the same time acquire a greater precision in the use of words'.
Embossed notepaper: Edgecliff, St Andrews, N.B. - As to Houghton presiding on 8 July in place of Lord Selborne: does Lord Redesdale agree to their using the Committee Room at the House of Lords as arranged; has not requested papers as there were too many at Lambeth last year; hopes Houghton might deliver some recollections of Wordsworth, as he did of Coleridge at Westminster Abbey; can Houghton prevail upon Lord Coleridge to contribute his long-promised piece.
Newport, I[sle] of W[ight]. - Sends passage from Coleridge's Table Talk; hopes Milnes has talked at length with C. Cowden Clarke, who knows more of Keats' early life than anyone. Severn's devotion to Keats in his last days. Transcribes passage from Table Talk Vol. 2 p. 89 on Coleridge's meeting Keats and predicting his death; Coleridge's unnamed companion on that occasion was Leigh Hunt; doubts about the alleged prediction as Keats was in perfect health at the time. The Examiner of c. 1815 introduces three would-be poets, Shelley, Keats, and himself; Reynolds has done very little but Keats' Muse will take care of him.
What are HJR's movements? WW has 'just got through a new book of your friend Coleridge's, his Biographia Literaria which I suppose you have seen. It contains an account of himself wh. in many places is amusing enough; but it appears to me to be of considerable consequence from the critical parts of it which will I think completely change the state of the question about the "Lake school." For to my great astonishment I find it full of good sense and fair rational criticism; and containing a condemnation of all those parts of Wordsworth [William Wordsworth] both of his theory and of his practice to wh. I should object. Denying his whole theory about poetical diction; and the resemblance of poetry to real life and low life; and blaming almost all those poems wh. he has written upon his theory. Condemning his prosaic style, his peculiarities his mystical and inflated language and wonderments about the most everyday things, his matter-of-factness, his attachment to pedlars, his deification of children; and in short everything or almost everything that other people have made a pretence of laughing at the whole he takes out and laughs at by itself. - Now it may be very true that all this makes but a very small part of the whole but nevertheless it always appeared to me so woven and matted with the rest as to give a tinge to the entire mass - it was in consequence of that, that I never entirely got over the repulsion I felt to Wordsworth - for there were so many passages obviously favourites of the poet where I could not feel any sympathy with him that I could not but doubt whether I had really any sympathy with him where I appeared to have. Even yet I much doubt whether Wordsworth would allow that man to understand his poems who talks of them as Coleridge does. If it be so the whole imaginary fabric of a new school of poetry wh. seemed as if it were to be built up to the skies and to the borders of the universe, far out-topping the town of Babel, turns out to be nothing but a little furbishing and beautification (as the churchwardens call it) of the parish church. Just getting rid of stale epithets and stale personifications and one or two other errors that had crept in and all our poets of reputation will turn out to be good poets. I am glad of it because I had much rather have my objects of admiration increased than diminished'. However as with most systems, the negative part of Coleridge's system is 'true or verisimillimum - as for the positive part we are all abroad again - his poetics I think are false - and as for his metaphysics they are as before - muddy with their own turbulence - I can make nothing of them. But how the man who wrote the critique on Wordsworth could write Christabel I cannot conceive. If I were to judge from this book I should take Coleridge's talent to lie in wit more than in poetry - his similes and metaphors are delightfully lively - he puts me in mind of Pope more than any other writer. Upon the strength of Coleridge's knowledge of Wordsworth's meaning I have sent for Ws poems'.
The Vice-Chancellor has informed WW that they are not disposed favourably toward JCH's scheme [the Coleridge prize, see WW to JCH, 27 Oct. 1834]: 'the objection is not to any accidental and extraneous part of the scheme, but to the name of Coleridge'. His name is still associated with his earlier reputation than with 'the Christian philosophy which he has impressed upon so many in his riper years'. Richard Jones has been appointed the new Professor of Political Economy at Haileybury. However with the uncertain future of the College the position may not last long.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad that Elizabeth is 'more comfortable and easy'; such a shame that she had to leave 'in pain'. Agrees about [Sophocles's] Philoctetes, 'the most perfect of the Greek dramas for acting, and reading'; has however started a 'course of interest in Euripides' which came to great men like Coleridge, Macaulay, and Schlegel in middle life; now understands the 'novel and passionate delight and relish' of the Greek audiences when Euripides gave them 'the human element in the old religious framework' for the first time; has read the "Medea", "Alcestis", "Bacchae", "Orestes", "Ion" and "Hecuba"; is now reading the "Helena", which he did his first May Term at Trinity, and which Schlegel liked best. Intends now to read a great deal of Elizabethan dramatists for the story, as 'Euripides has taught [him] to read dramatic poetry as a pastime, without troubling to criticise'.
Wimbledon Common. - Thanks for Sterling papers. Coleridge and followers like Sterling mistakenly assume that practitioners of popular theology have no grasp of its philosophical complexities: Sterling's ideas were more simply expressed by the Wesleyan Methodist Adam Clark[e] nearly 40 years ago. Sterling's style is too taxing, but Milnes' account of his integrity shows Sterling is worthy of the Club in his honour; Stephen would have remained a member if the others had not been so much younger.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - They are having 'the most beautiful weather, and the woods are at their best', with bluebells and the rhododendrons and azaleas 'of which our neighbours' [at Leith Hill Place] woods are full'. Bessie has gone to town for two nights; she has not yet completely recovered from her cough, but otherwise seems fairly well. Julian writes [from school] generally 'quite cheerfully': he is 'in a higher class, which pleases him, and he does not mention any troubles with the other boys'.
Is going to London tomorrow to see about the publication of his translation of [Sophocles'] Ajax, and also of a new book of poems [The Death of Man and Other Poems]. Will come back with Bessie on Thursday. Will send back 'the Theocritus before too long. It is helpful, but does not give [him] much confidence'. He and Bessie are reading Harper's life of Wordsworth, which, 'though dully written', has much that is interesting 'particularly about Wordsworth's earlier life, and about his sister and Coleridge'. Coleridge's story is 'even more pitiable and tragic' than Robert had thought. Sends love to his mother.
Glasgow. - Advent of 'The Church & the Diabolus'; not sure which is Esau and which Jacob; 'their mutual claims for the dying testifier Alex[ande]r Campbell'; Henry's holiday in Sorrento. 'So you think Carlyle untruculent in his last book... It seems to me rabider & rabider - & something abominably arrogant in the air with which he affects to button up Coleridge in one pocket & Schleiermacher in the other, as if they were both babies to him'.
The Shiffolds. - He and Bessie have just heard from Aunt Annie that his parents are both well. They are having 'very wet weather again, and the last of the snow has gone'. The Abercrombies leave on Friday; it has been a 'very pleasant visit', and it has been 'very good for Julian to be with the other children, in spite of occasional squabbles'. Robert now reads to him in bed for a while every evening; they 'get through a good deal, mostly poetry'. Julian 'listens to all with equal interest, but says he likes difficult poems best'; he certainly 'cannot understand all he hears', such as the Ancient Mariner. He likes Lucy Gray [by Wordsworth] and [Browning's] Pied Piper 'better still', as well as 'any poem about storms at sea, and people being drowned. His 'special poem', though, is Allingham's Up the airy mountain...[The Faeries], which 'is indeed a perfect bit of literature'. Julian almost knows it by heart now.
Bessie and Robert are now reading Great Expectations; it is a 'far better book than Our Mutual Friend, though the comic parts are hardly as good'. Bessie is very well. Robert saw Molly in London last week, who was 'cheerful, despite a cold'. George [her son, rather than her brother-in-law] 'seemed well, and had just had his first game of football at school'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Robert's account of the 'subsidiary hunt' curious; comments on 'what tenacity there is in certain families', with Macaulay's grand-nephew [Robert], Wordsworth's grand-nephew, and he supposes the great grandson of Erasmus Darwin 'chasing each other about the lakes', while this Sunday Lord Coleridge, the poet's great-grand-nephew is staying at Wallington. He is coming to try the 'great murder case' of the paymaster shot on the train between Stannington and Morpeth' [John Nisbet]. Was pleased by Mary's excellent account of Julian; Robert will be glad to see him 'well and bonny'; sends love to Elizabeth, whose interesting letter to Caroline he has just seen. Notes in a postscript that he has just finished the fifth of [Cicero's] Second "Verrines", a 'wonderful oration'.
WW is 'sorry that you are so much puzzled to chuse between ideas and things that you are making up your mind to be content with words which so far as I understand it is the Platonic resource. I cannot tell you what people in general believe about Berkeley [George Berkeley] and Reid [Thomas Reid] but the two appear to me to come to much the same result - B. says that what we perceive are ideas and that there is nothing else. R. reports that we perceive things and that there is nothing else. But they both agree that what we perceive, exists, and they deny any other objects. The important question is whether the objects wh. we perceive are independent of us in their relations and sequences and of that we have complete evidence as far as the proposition is intelligible. I would never desire to prove a proposition farther. But I will tell you what the mischief is - (very likely I have told it you before -) almost all the quarrelling in this world arises from propositions - are not all your theological disputes questions of in and by and with and from & so on? So likewise in this instance - people chuse to ask whether the objects we perceive are without the mind or not. What the devil do they mean? I know what is meant by a church steeple being on the outside of the eye or a dead dog on the outside of the nose; and if the mind reside in the eye or the nose you may in the same sense say that these objects are exterior to it; not in point of fact the relation between the mind & object is not one which can be expressed by any such beggarly part of speech - it is that of perceiving and perceived. The only externality which is worth lifting an eyelid for is the constancy of the laws of nature by which certain qualities perceived by the different senses are inseparably connected and act upon each other in the way of cause and effect. Have you read Brown's book's? They are dashing, and on some material points strongly wrong, but about cause and effect he has an admirable clearness of view and happiness of illustration'. Samuel Coleridge can publish whenever he wants - 'as he takes all the conceivable elements of unintelligibility it is hard if any envious ray of meaning finds its way through the theologico - metaphysico - etymologico - Coleridgical thatch with wh. he will cover his Platonic hut'.
WW's letter has disheartened JCH with regard to the success of John Sterling's plan for a Samuel Coleridge prize essay at Cambridge University [see JCH to WW, 12 Oct. 1834]. He encloses a rough draft of the project which he will also send off to Connop Thirlwall, Christopher and William Wordsworth and William French once he has heard from WW: 'Subjects of the kind here pointed out have occasionally been given for Hudson essays; for instance the Reasonableness of the Atonement was the subject some two years ago. Butler's Analogy might convince our bigwig that reason may be applied to the truths of Christianity without blowing them up; and even in sermons one perpetually hears people endeavouring to shew the coincidence between Reason and Scripture. In assenting to Sterling's proposal I was influenced by two motives, the wish to see Coleridge's name associated with Christian philosophy, and the wish to have it openly recognized that philosophy and Christianity are not antagonist powers. Such an admission might do much toward the emancipation of our theology'. It may be easier and less difficult if the essay was to be generally on all metaphysical subjects, treated either speculatively or historically. There is no equivalent scheme in England.
Herstmonceux, Hailsham - JCH hopes to come to Cambridge in mid-November for a couple of days: 'There is so much I want to hear from you both about persons and things. Where is Thirlwall [Connop Thirlwall]? I have heard nothing of him since he went abroad in June. I hope you do not find that your controversy has produced any coolness between you. It certainly ought not: for he felt the friendliness of your first pamphlet, and this feeling must assuredly have been strengthened by the second. Still it will be long before he can feel at home among you again' [see JCH to WW, 1 June 1834]. Has WW seen William Wordsworth - 'I rejoice to see from the British Magazine that we are to have a new volume of poems from him soon. Alas, he is now the only object of veneration left in England'. Since JCH saw WW Samuel Coleridge has died. John Sterling thinks a monument for Coleridge should be established at Cambridge on the philosophy of Christianity: 'The plan delighted me the moment I heard of it; and I hope in a few days to send you a sketch of some proposals to be circulated with a view to raising subscriptions for the purpose' [see JCH to WW, 25 Oct. 1834]. JCH is working on an edition of his his brother's, Augustus Hare, parish sermons. Meanwhile the third volume of Niebuhr's History of Rome has yet to be done.
[Revised version of JCH to WW, 25 October 1834] Some of the friends of the late Samuel Coleridge think a prize should be founded in his name at the University of Cambridge [see JCH to WW, 12 Oct. 1834]: 'With reference to the main bent of his thoughts and studies through the whole of his life, they conceive that the Coleridge Prize should be for an English Essay on some question, speculative or historical, of metaphysical philosophy, more especially on such as bear on any of the great truths of religion, as set forth in the Canonical Scriptures, and in the articles of our National Church'.
Escrick. - Thanks for manuscript and gift; enjoyment of Milnes' poems; will accept offer of another book of poetry or literary biography; fond of Coleridge and Keats; Lady Wenlock unlikely to lend books as she has never spoken to Ripley. Will try to correct grammar and shorten poems, as Milnes suggests. Earning little as gardening is too strenuous for his chronic 'ossification of the heart'; pain of attacks and difficulty in breathing; would like a clerkship. Concludes with 'the workman's wish of the season, a Merry Christmas to you'.
Milnes's poetry belongs to the school of Tennyson; cannot help loving the style's 'quaint involutions of language into a wierd [sic] music, &... mystical suggestiveness of fancy and thought'. Names favourite verses. Restrictions of didactic element? She herself would create the perfect modern poet from 'Shelley's visionariness & Byron's intensity, admitting Wordsworth's magnanimity of simplicity, & Coleridge's [...". Thanks Kenyon for book; Mrs Hedley will be delighted to hear from him.
Central fragments and end missing.
Horsham - Can WW find out at Cambridge University Press whether they have anything more than the common Greek letters, or if they can as in Germany print all the Greek numerals. An engraving of each of the Athenian marbles would cost HJR a great deal ['Inscriptiones Graecae Vetustissiamae', 1825]. It is very difficult to get the book you require, and minor German publications are particularly rare in London and Paris. HJR wants 'to know how you modern philosophers believe on one subject. It is pretty clear that the doughty Scotchmen's remedy against Berkeley and Hume is not worth a farthing. Pray then, do you philosophers rest on Berkeley and Hume's conclusions or if not how do you get rid of them?' HJR would like to see a sound volume of Platonism published which would 'put the whole herd of you to the rout. Coleridge does not mean, I hear, to give us his book on the Logos till after his death - so you shd. pray for his life, for when that comes out you will be all utterly demolished'.
Penmenner House, The Lizard, Cornwall. - Likes the sketch of Bessie's wedding costume; quite Watteau-esque as she says. He is 'no judge of silks' but the piece she sends looks good; encloses samples of cloth for his trousers and for a tweed suit and asks her opinion. Will probably stay in Cornwall till next Wednesday; [George] Moore and MacCarthy are the only others there at the moment; [G.H.?] Hardy left yesterday, and he hopes both 'Llewelyn Davieses' [Crompton and Theodore?] are coming tomorrow. Describes the place; Moore 'played a lot and sang yesterday after tea', then they played cards and talked. Is reading James's "Daisy Miller", which is 'charming'. Discussion of the music box; has written to his mother to suggest having the partitions taken out; it is from both George and Charles. Expects it would be best to invite the consul [Henry Turing, at Rotterdam, to the wedding celebration]; he may not come. Did not mean that Sir Henry [Howard] would arrange all the legal marriage business, but he offered to arrange the ceremony and invitation of the consul; expects he could do this most easily but it would not matter if they or her uncle should arrange it. Will write to Sir Henry or Turing when he hears from her uncle, though is not sure what to say. Would prefer to invite Sir Henry to the wedding, especially as Bob's father and mother are coming, feels he should ask his parents what they think. Sir Henry is a relation, and has 'shown great good-will and readiness'.
Does not see why Bessie should cut herself off completely from her Dutch musical friends; she will 'often be in Holland', and will 'surely stay at Mein's [sic: Mien Rontgen's] in Amsterdam'; in England, she will of course have 'complete freedom to make her own friends' and must keep up and develop her own talents as much as she can; he will enjoy hearing her play, but also going to hear others and getting to know her friends, but that does not mean she should not have independence of interests and friendships. Thinks that women 'have not enough respect for their own intellectual lives' and give it up too easily on marriage, through their husband's fault or their own; she should 'quite seriously consider going to settle in Berlin for 5 or 6 months' for her music. Mrs [Helen] Fry's marriage has made her more of a painter. Her pleurisy is better now; thinks Bessie exaggerates the importance of her cigarette smoking, and that any ill effects it does have are balanced by the help it gives her to create art. Has never 'been in danger of being in love' with Helen Fry, but always found her 'more interesting and amusing than any woman [he] ever met... with a completely original personality', and would not think of criticising such a person's habits but would assume they are 'best suited to their temperament'; in the same way, Moore probably 'drinks more whisky than is good for his health, and smokes too much too', but he would not criticise him. Bessie is also 'an original person' with a 'personal genius of [her] own', but in addition he loves her; has never felt the same about any other woman.
Continues the letter next day. Has finished "Daisy Miller"; and is doing some German, getting on better than he thought he would. Part of the reason for saying he would 'never learn German' was an 'exaggerated idea of the difficulty', but more because he thought, and still thinks, it will be less of a 'literary education' than other languages; is chiefly learning it for Goethe, though being able to read German scholarship will be useful. Has read Coleridge's translation of "Wallenstein", which Schiller himself claimed was as good as the original; thinks English and [Ancient] Greek lyric poetry is better than the German he has read. Very sorry about Lula [Julius Röntgen]; asks if it [his illness] will do more than postpone him going to Berlin. Has heard from Daniel that Sanger is 'getting on quite well'; hopes he will return from Greece 'quite himself again'. Will be nice for Bessie to see the Joneses [Herbert and Alice] again; he has 'become a little parsonic perhaps' but very nice; has seen little of him for the last few years. Bessie should certainly get [Stevenson's] "Suicide Club" for Jan [Hubrecht]; will pay half towards it. Will certainly come before Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] returns. Has grown 'such a beard, finer than Moore's and McCarthy's, though they have grown their's for weeks'. Describes their daily routine. Is encouraged that Moore likes several recent poems he himself was doubtful about; is copying out the play and will show him today or tomorrow. The Davieses are coming this afternoon. Signs off with a doggerel verse.
Seatoller. - Expects Bob is enjoying himself abroad. Is having a good time at Seatoller with [Maurice?] Amos, [Ralph] Wedgwood and [George] Moore; Vaughan Williams left a few days ago; he and Wedgwood 'bathe in Cambridge pool every morning'; Amos and Wedgwood work hard for their triposes, while Moore chiefly reads "Jane Eyre" and other novels, and George 'all sorts of jolly books', none for his tripos. They are all getting on well, even better than at Stye since there is not the 'slight distance between Moore and Wedgwood'. They go up the mountains in the afternoon; he and Moore, as 'the Wordsworthians of the party' went over to Grasmere and Rydal; describes Dove Cottage, de Quincey's extension to it, and S.T.C. [Samuel Taylor Coleridge]'s house. Declares that there were 'men in England then', also naming Scott, Shelley, Byron and Keats. George got his scholarship; does not seem fair that Wedgwood has not, while they give one to someone like Charlie Buxton 'of very ordinary ability' in their first year; thinks this is 'bolstering up classics'. It is however a sign that the college is doing 'their duty to history' that there is now an entrance scholarship for it. Is glad at a personal level that Buxton has a scholarship: he and George will have plenty of money to go abroad in the long vacation now. Elliott has not got a scholarship, but is spoken of as 'certain' next year. Had a nice letter from Bowen; German measles is active in [Grove] house. Asks Bob to write to him about the novel if he needs someone to discuss it with: he knows the plan and beginning, and will keep it secret. Wedgwood is a really good rock climber. Notes in postscript that he will be seeing Moore's brother [Thomas] in London again next week, so Bob should write there.
86 Walton St. - Thanks Bob for 'another fine fruit from [his] inexhaustible cornucopia' [the translation of the Homeric "Hymn to Demeter" in this year's "From the Shiffolds"]. Does not have a text to compare Bob's version with, but enjoyed the 'very lively narrative'; finds Demeter an 'unpleasant character'. Has just read Paul Nash's "Outline"; they 'both come very well out of' it, though Marsh 'resents being told' he 'recited Kubla Khan in a voice that reminded him of Mr Punch'.
Harts, Almondsbury, Bristol. - Thanks Bob for sending her his poem ["A Dream"]. Her sister read it twice before she had a chance to see it. Asks if Bob has copies for sale, as she would like a few to send to friends; thinks it 'one of the best things' he has written, on a level with his 'letter to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'. Asks what his other friends think of it. His 'powers do not decay', though he 'often scratch[es] his head' and says he does not know what to do. The reconciliation of Lucifer and Christ seems original and interesting; must read "Par[adise] Regained" again. Wishes she could see Bob and talk to him. Finds Lady Bessborough and her family letters 'fascinating', as is everything that 'gets near Byron'; the letters are 'newly published by Lord Bessborough' ["Lady Bessborough and Her Family Circle"], and inspired her to [re-?] read and enjoy Byron. Has also read a new biography of [Edward] Trelawny [by Margaret Armstrong?]. 'That lot and the Wordsworth-Coleridge group never grow stale'. Heard 'scraps of a talk on Hazlitt' by ? on her 'very bad wireless' recently; wishes more of such talks were broadcast.