Memoir and letters of Sara Coleridge

Preface

" Poor is the portrait that one look portrays, It mocks the face on which we loved to gaze."*

And if this be true of such external resemblances as pictorial art is employed to produce, it is equally true of that unconscious self-portraiture, that revelation of the inner mind, which is contained, in a greater or less degree, in any collection of published letters. The interest which such works are intended to excite is, in the main, biographical, and their object is not merely to preserve and bring to light a number of writings of, intrinsic merit and beauty, but still more, perhaps, to present to the reader a record, however imperfect, of the personal characteristics, both moral and intellectual, of the writer.

But how faint and inadequate, if not incorrect, is that image of the departed which can alone be thus reproduced ! Even the original correspondence, could it be given entire in all its details (which is, for obvious reasons, impossible), would be but as a mirrored reflection — a selection from the correspondence is but its scattered fragments.

The difficulty which must attend on all such undertakings as that on which I have been engaged, in editing the letters

* Lines in " Phantasmion."

x Preface.

of my Mother, is rather increased than diminished by that very quality which constitutes their peculiar charm — I mean their perfect genuineness and life-like reality.

Touching descriptions of personal feeling, acute remarks, and wise reflections occur here in abundance, which seem, to the eye of affection, to be "gems of purest ray serene," the utterances of a heart full of sensibility, and an intellect at once subtle and profound. Yet, severed as they must often be from the context which justified and explained them, these thoughtful comments on the life within and around her may, it is to be feared, either lose ■their full significance, or assume one that is exaggerated and untrue.

Even those portions of the following collection which seem, at first sight, to be most abstract and elaborate (such as the critical discussions on Art and Poetry, and those which intimate the results of speculative thought and religious inquiry), will be found, on consideration, to be full of personal references, suggested by special occasions, and connected at all points with the realities of life.

The letters of Sara Coleridge were not acts of authorship, but of friendship ; we feel, in reading them, that she is not entertaining or instructing a crowd of listeners, but holding quiet converse with some congenial mind. Her share of that converse we are privileged in part to overhear, while the response is borne away by the winds in another direction.

A book composed of epistolary extracts can never be a wholly satisfactory one, because its contents are not only relative and fragmentary, but unauthorized and unrevised. To arrest the passing utterances of the hour, and reveal to the world that which was spoken either in the innermost circle of home affection, or in the outer (but still guarded) circle of so-

Preface. xi

cial and friendly intercourse, seems almost like a betrayal of confidence, and is a step which can not be taken by survivors without some feelings of hesitation and reluctance. That reluctance is only to be overcome by the sense that, however natural, it is partly founded on delusion — a delusion which leads us to personify "the world," to our imagination, as an obtuse and somewhat hostile individual, who is certain to take things by the wrong handle, and can not be trusted to make the needful allowances and supply the inevitable omissions. Whereas it is a more reasonable, as well as a more comfortable belief, that the only part of the world which is in the least likely to concern itself with such a volume as this, is composed of a number of enlightened and sympathetic persons, who, it is hoped, though strangers to all but the name of Sara Coleridge, may yet derive from her letters some portion of the gratification which they once afforded to those who knew and loved her. And if it be well for us to " think on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely," and to rejoice in " any virtue and any praise," we ought surely to be willing that all who desire it should hear the music of the words in which these things are uttered, and see the light of the life in which they shone.

In conclusion, I have only to offer my respectful and grateful acknowledgments to those who have rendered this memorial possible by their kindness in intrusting me with these treasured records of a friendship long past, yet never past away.

E. C.

Hanwell Rectory, May 7, 1S73.

Contents

Preface Page ix

MEMOIR.

Recollections of Sara Coleridge. Written by Herself, in a Letter to her Daughter.

Chapter I.— 1833

Letters to her Husband, her Eldest Brother Hartley Coleridge, and Miss Trevenen 68-75

I. Importance of Indirect Influences in Education. — Description of her Son at Three Years of Age. — A Child's First Effort at Recollection. (68- 70.) II. Mrs. Joanna Baiilie. — " An Old Age Serene and Bright." — Miss xiv Contents.

Martineau's Characters of Children.— " A Little Knowledge" of Political Economy " a Dangerous Thing." — Comparison of Tasso, Dante, and Milton. (71-73.) III. Characteristics of English Scenery. — Somerset, Yorkshire, Devon, Derbyshire, and the Lakes. — Visit of H. N. Coleridge to Mr.

Poole at Nether Stowey. (73, 74.) IV. "Dodging." — Children best

Managed by Authority, not by Premature Appeals made to their Feelings.

(74.) V. The Ancients' Close Observation and Accurate Delineation of

Nature. — Names of Colors in Classic Poetry. — "The Georgics." (75.)

CHAPTER II.— 1834. Letters to her Husband, and to Miss Trevenen. . 76-89

I. Books for the Little Ones. — " Original Poems." — Mrs. Howitt's Poetry. — Mrs. Hannah More. — Girlish View of her Literary Pretensions confirmed by Maturer Judgment. — A Group of Authoresses. — Remarks on Jane Austen's Novels by the Lake Poets. — Hannah More's Celebrity accounted for. — Letters of Walpole and Mrs. Barbauld. — Love of Gossip in the Reading

Public. (76-79.) II. Reasons why the Greek and Latin Poets ought to

continue to form Part of the Course of School Instruction. — Lord Byron's Peculiar Experience no Argument against it. — Milton's Scheme of Education.— Conjecture as to the Effect of Circumstances on the Development of Poetic Genius. (79,80.) III. Dryden and Chaucer. (80,81.) IV. Concentration, not Versatility, the Secret of Success in Life. — Visionaries. — The Passion of Envy and the Vice of Cruelty. — Is Sporting Wrong ? Practical Bearings of the Question. — Cruelty of Children seldom Deliberate. — Folly

of Exaggerating Bird-nesting into a Crime. (S1-S5.) V. The Drama and

the Epic. — Painting among the Ancients. — Sense of the Picturesque in Nature a Development of Modern Taste. (85, 86.) VI. The Sublime and

the Beautiful. — Comparative Popularity of Shakespeare, Milton, and Ben Jonson. — Education of Taste by an Exclusive Study of the Best Models. (S6-S8.) — - — VII. Mrs. Joanna Baillie's Taste in Dress. — Opinion of the Poetess and of her Sister expressed by an Eminent Savant. (88, 89.)

CHAPTER III.— 1834 {continued)

Letters to her Husband and her Eldest Brother, and to Mrs. Plummer 90-103

I. Composition of "Pretty Lessons for Good Children." (90.) II.

Chaucer's Poetry not that of a Primitive Age. (90, 91.) III. Note on Enthusiasm.— Mischievous Effect of Wrong Names given to Moral Qualities. (91,92.) IV. Cowper's "Iliad" and" Odyssey."— Requisites for a Successful Translation of Homer. (92, 93.) V. False Etymologies.— Dr. Johnson, his Mental Powers and Moral Character. — Quiet Conclusion of "Paradise Lost," and of the Part of Shylock in the "Merchant of Venice."

Silence of Revenge ; Eloquence of Love and Grief and Indignation. (93-

Contents. xv

95-) VI. Authority of Criticism.— The Judicial Faculty as much a Part

of the Human Mind as the Inventive Faculty. — Great Art appeals to Sympathies which Exist in all. (95-97.) VII. Botany.— The Linna:an System

quite as Natural as the Modern Classification, though less Comprehensive. —Both Arrangements ought to be Learned by Botanical Students. (97, 9S.)

VIII. On the Death of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.— Details of his Last

Illness.— His Will, Letters, and Literary Remains.— Respect and Affection felt for Him by Those with whom he Lived.— Probable Influence of his Writings on the Course of Religious Thought. — Remarks on his Genius and Character by Different Critics. — His Last Readings and Notes. (98-102.) IX. Attachment of Mr. Wordsworth to the Church of England. — Arguments for an Establishment, in Mr. Coleridge's "Church and State." (103.)

Chapter Iv.— 1835

Letters to her Husband, to Mrs. Plummer, Miss Trevenen, Mrs. Henry M. Jones 104-120

I. Early Training. — How to Instill Right Principles of Conduct, and Teach a Child the Use of his Mind. — A Little Boy's Notion of Parental

Discipline. (104, 105.) II. Her Contributions to the "Table Talk." —

Taking Notes a Useful Practice. — Education: A Quick Child may be Taught a Good Deal without any Danger of Cramming. — Deaths of Charles

Lamb and Edward Irving. (105-108.) III. "The Accomplishment of

Verse." — The Delightful Duty of Improving Natural Talents. (108, 109.) IV. Newspaper Criticisms on the "Table Talk." — Unreasonable Complaints Answered, and False Insinuations indignantly Rejected. — Mr. Coleridge not a Partisan, either of Whigs or Tories, though he was a Friend of the People and Supporter of the National Church. — Mr. Southey's Opinion

of the Book. (109, no.) V.Union of Thought and Feeling in the Poetry of

Wordsworth. — The "White Doe of Rylstone." (111,112.) VI. Charles

Lamb, his Shyness and Tenderness. — A Life-long Friendship. (112, 113.)

VII. Writings of Charles Wolfe in Prose and Verse. — His Defense of

Poetry against the Attacks of the Utilitarians. — Wolfe with the Methodists. — Wesley's Interview with Two Crazy Enthusiasts. — Political Questions from a Conservative Point of View. — The Secularization of Church Property.— Projected Disestablishment of the Church in Ireland certain to Lead to the same Measure in England. — A Sisterly Wish on Behalf of the Sister

Isle. (1 13-116.) VIII. Severity not the Right Mode of Treatment for an

Obstinate Temper, in Spite of its Apparent Success. — Parental Discipline

has a Higher Aim, and avails itself of Higher Influences. (116, 117.)

IX. Spiders. — Their Webs and Ways. (118.) X. Unpractical Suggestions

of a Writer in the Athenaum on the Subject of Female Education. — Boarding-school Life not Unhealthy for Girls under Ordinary Circumstances. — Alleged Physical Superiority of Savage over Civilized Races not Founded

on Fact, nor much Worth Regretting if it were. (118-120.) XI. Puns.

— Affectation. (120.)

xvi Contents.

Chapter V.— 1836

Letters to her Husband, her Mother, Mrs. H. M. Jones, Miss Trevenen, Miss Arabella Brooke 1 21-134

I. " Miscellaneous Plays," by Mrs. Joanna Baillie. (121.) II. A Perfect

Reticule. — Bridgewater Treatise by Dr. Roget. — Natural History less Dependent on other Sciences than Astronomy — or Comparative Anatomy. — Want of Reality in the Poetry of Mrs. Hemans. — Excess of this Quality in

Crabbe. (121-123.) III. Etymology of Plat and Plait. — The Plaits (or

Plats) of a Lady's Hair, and the Plaits of her Gown, originally the same Word, though Different in Meaning and Pronunciation. — A Social Sunbeam.

(123, 124.) IV. "Clever" People not always Thinking People. — Serious

Reflections Suggested by the Receipt of Taylor's " Holy Living and Dying," as a Present from a Friend. — Sympathy more to be Prized than Admiration. — " The Boy and the Birds," and the " Story without an End." — A Critic's

Foible. (124-126.) V. A Visit to Devonshire. — Advantage of Frequent

Intercourse among Relations. — Forebodings of Illness, too soon Realized. — Maternal Cares and Interests. — Interruption of her Journey Homeward. (126-128.) VI. "Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted." (12S, 129.) VII. "TheSkaping Spirit of Imagination." (129, 130.)

VIII. Speculations on Life and Organization. — Life considered as the

Connecting Link between Mind and Matter. — Mr. Coleridge's Application of this View to the Scriptural Narratives of Demoniacal Possession, and

to the Christian Doctrine of the Resurrection. (130-132.) IX. "The

Remains." — Metaphysics like Alum. (132, 133.) X. Abbott's "Corner- Stone," and other Religious Works. — Comparison of Archbishop Whately with Dr. Arnold, in their Mode of Setting Forth the Evidences of Christianity.— Verbosity of Dr. Chalmers. — Value of the Greek Language as an Instrument of Mental Cultivation. (133, 134.)

Chapter Vi.— 1837

Letters to her Husband, to Miss A. Brooke, Mrs. Plumper, Mrs. H. M. Jones 135-154

I. Difference between the Italian Satiric Poets and their English Imitators. (135.) II. Unsatisfactoriness of Desultory Correspondence. —

" Phantasmion, a Romance of Fairy-land." — Defense of Fairy Tales by Five

Poets. — Books about Children not often Books for Children. Incongruous

Effect of Scripture Lessons intermixed with Nursery Talk and Doings.

Christianity best Taught by a Mother out of the Bible and Prayer-book.

"Newman's Sermons." — "Maurice's Letters to the Quakers." (135-138.)

III. " Mary and Florence ; or, Grave and Gay," a Tale for Children.

Right Interpretation of St. John iii., S.— Heavenly Things should be set be-

Contents. xvii

fore Children both "plainly" and "by a Parable." (138, 139.) IV. Regent's Park. (139, 140.) V. Dryden's Censure of Ovid, on the Score of

the Rhetorical Expressions attributed to the Dying Narcissus. — His Observations not True to Nature, nor Applicable to the Case in Question. — Definition of "Force" and "Liveliness" in Poetry. — The Homeric Mythology not Allegorical. — Symbolical Character of the Imagery of Milton and Wordsworth. — Originality of Virgil. (140-142.) VI. " Parochial Sermons" by John Henry Newman. — Power and Beauty of his Style. — Tendency of his Teachings to Exalt the Passive rather than the Active Qualities of Humanity. — The Operation of Divine Grace on the Soul is a Mystery, the Visible Effect whereof is Holiness ; but Writers of the Oxford School appear to Represent the Effect as no less'Invisible than the Cause. — The Ordinance of Preaching. (142-145.) VII. Graphic Style of the Old Testament Narratives. — Greek and Roman History less Objective. (145, 146.)

VIII. " Phantasmion" a Descriptive Piece ; not an Allegory, or Moral Tale. — Want of Artistic Unity in Goethe's " Faust." (146-148.) IX. Preparation for the Study of Divinity. — Tendency to Discursiveness inherited from

her Father. (148.) X. A View of Grasmere. — " Prosy" Letters preferred

to Practical Ones. — Inefficiency of Dames' Schools, and even of National Schools, as at that Time Conducted. — Effect of Church Principles and Practices in giving a Religious Tone to a School. (14S, 149.) XI. Conservative Replies to some Arguments of the Radical Party. — The British Constitution not originally Popular, but Paternal. — An Appeal to Universal Suffrage not an Appeal to the Collective Wisdom of the Age, but to its Collective Ignorance. — " The Majority will be always in the Right ;" but not till it has Adopted the Views of the Minority. — Despotism of the Mob in America Regretted by many Americans. — English Government not a mere Machine for Registering Votes. — How are the People to be Trained to a Right Exercise of their Liberties ? — " Govern them, and lift them up forever." (150-154.) XII. Insanity. — Intermediate State of the Departed not distinctly Revealed in Scripture. (154.)

Chapter Vii.— 1838

Letters to her Husband, to Mrs. Joshua Stanger, Mrs. Plummer, Miss A. Brooke, Miss Trevenen. . 155-165

I. Letter of Condolence to a Friend on the Death of a Brother. (155, 156.)

II. Mr. Gillman's Life of her Father. — Earlier Development of Mr.

Coleridge's Mind in the Direction of Poetry than in that of Theological

Research. (156, 157.) III- Blessing of Fraternal Affection. — Danger to

which it is Exposed from Human Infirmity. (157, 158.) IV. Sea-side Occupations.— Bathing : Childish Timidity not to be Cured by Compulsion. — Letter-writing: Friendly Letters, like Visits, not mere Vehicles for News.

(158, 159.) V. The "History of Rome," by Dr. Arnold.— The Study of

Divinity, Poetry, and Physiology preferred to that of History or Politics. — Christian Theology as an Intellectual System, based on Metaphysics. — Importance of Right Views on these Subjects. — National Education the Proper

B xviii Contents.

Work of the Church. (159-161.) VI. Literary Varieties.— Spirituality of

Northern Nations, and Metaphysical Subtlety of the Greeks. (161.) VII.

Miracle of the Raising of Lazarus passed over by the Synoptical Gospels.

(161, 162.) VIII. Connection between the Senses and the Mind. — Poetic

Genius Implies a Sensitive Organization. — Early Greatness of Great Poets.

Poetic Imagination of Plato brought to bear upon Abstract Ideas. (162,

163.) IX. Treasures of English Literature. — Arnold's "Rome." (163.)

X.The Homeric Ithaca. — Autobiographical Air of the "Odyssey." (163,

164.) XI. Description of the Falls of Niagara in Miss Martineau's

"Retrospect of Western Travel." (164.) XII. Lukewarm Christians.

(164, 165.)

Chapter Viii.— 1839

Letters to her Husband, Mrs. Plummer, Miss A. Brooke, Miss Trevenen 166-174

I. Characteristics of the Oxford School of Divines. — Combinations, even for the Best Purposes, not Favorable to Truth. — Superior Confidence inspired by an Independent Thinker. — Are Presbyterians Excluded from the Visible Church ? — Authority of Hooker cited against such a Decision. — Defense of the Title of Protestant. — Luther : Injustice commonly done to

his Character and Work. (166-169.) II- A Little Lecturer. — Stammering

a Nervous Affection, dependent on the Imagination. (169, 170.) III. Philosophy of the "Excursion." (170, 171.) IV. Lord Byron on the Lake

Poets. (171.) V. Writing to Order. — Sunday Stories and Spanish Romances. (171, 172.) VI. Pain more Bearable when its Cause is Known.

— Books and Letters Composed but never Written. — Musings on Eternity. — " We know not yet what we shall be." — Descriptions of Heaven, Symbolical, Material, and Spiritual. — Conjectures of Various Writers respecting the Condition of Departed Souls. (172-174.)

Chapter Ix.— 1840

Letters to her Husband, her Eldest Brother, Mrs. J. Stanger, Mrs. H. M. Jones 175-180

I. Love of Books a Source of Happiness, and likely to be Increased by

Classical Studies. (175.) II. Lord Byron's " Mazeppa" and "Manfred."

His Success in Satire and in Sensational Writing. (175, 176.) III. Practical View of the Duties of God-parents. — Sponsorship Nowadays chiefly a

Social Obligation. (176, 177.) IV. On the Death of an Infant Daughter.

('77. I7S.) V. "They sin who tell us Love can die." (178, 179.) VI. A

Sunset Landscape. (179.) VII. The True Art of Life. (179,180.)

Contents. xix

Letters to her Husband, Mrs. Plummer, Mrs. Thomas Farrer, Miss Trevenen, Mrs. H. M. Jones, the Rev. H. Moore, the Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge. . 181-190

I. Necessity of Patience and Hope in Education. (1S1.) II. The Lake

Poets on Sport.— The " Life of Wesley " a Wonderful Book. (181, 182.)

III. Coolness of Unimaginative People. — Imagination, like Religion, "requires looking after." (182.) IV. Inflexibility of the French Language. —

The Second Part of "Faust :" its Beauties and Defects. — Visionary Hopes.

(l&3-) V. Reminiscences of a Tour in Belgium. — Hemling's "Marriage

of St. Catharine" at Bruges, and Van Eyck's " Adoration of the Lamb" at Ghent. — Devotional Gravity of the Early Flemish Painters, and Human Pathos of Rubens. — Works of that Master at Antwerp and Mechlin. (183-

185.) VI. Prayer for the Dead. (185.) VII. A Visit to Oxford. (186.)

VIII. Illness of her Husband, and Death of his only Sister. (186-188.)

IX. On the same Topics. — Religious Bigotry. (188.) X. " Hope Deferred."— Her Son at Eton. (189.) XI. Resignation. (189, 190.)

CHAPTER XL— 1843.

Letters to her Son, her Eldest Brother, Mrs. Gillman, Mrs. J. Stanger, Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge, Rev. Henry Moore, Edward Quillinan, Esq., Mrs. Thomas Farrer, Miss Morris, Mrs. H. M. Jones 19 1-2 10

I. To her Son. (191.) II. Her Husband's Death.— First Meeting with

him at Highgate. (191, 192.) III. On the same Subject.— Trial of a

Mourner's Faith, and How it was Met. (192-194.) IV. Affectionate Kindness of Relatives and Friends. — Special Gifts of a Christian Minister, in his Attendance upon the Sick and Dying. (194-196.) V. Memoir of Nicholas Ferrer. (196,197.) VI. A Quiet Heart. (197.) VII. Monument of

Robert Southey. — Recumbent Statues. (197, 19S.) VIII. On her Loss.

Injury done to the Mind by Brooding over Grief. (198, 199.) IX. God's

Will the Best Consolation. (199, 200.) X. New Friends. — A Happy Pair

(200.) XI. Dryness of Controversial Sermons. (201.) XII. Preliminary

Essay to the " Aids to Reflection," by the Rev. James Marsh. — Her " Essay on Rationalism." — Consolation and Instruction derived from Theological

Studies. (201, 202.) XIII. A Visit to Margate. — Domestic Economy in

its Right Place. — An Eton School-boy. — Reading under Difficulties. — High Moral Aim of Carlyle's " Hero-worship." — Joy of a True Christian. — The

Logic of the Heart and the Logic of the Head. (202-205.) XIV. Beauty of

Sussex Scenery. — Congenial Society. (205, 206.) XV. Friendly Recollections and Anticipations. (206.) XVI. On her Loss. — Cheerfulness instead xx Con tads.

of Happiness. — Visits to Eton and Tunbridge Wells. (206-20S.) XVII.

Sympathy Inspired by the Sorrows of Childhood and Youth. (208,209.)

XVIII. Restoration of the Jews. — Literal Fulfillment of the Promise apparently Indicated by Old Testament Prophecy, and by the Words of St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. (209, 210.) XIX. Readings in Aristophanes.—Cheerfulness and Simplicity of Early Poetry. (210.J

CHAPTER XII.— 1S44.

Letters to Miss Morris, John Kenyon, Esq., Mrs. Edward Coleridge, Mrs. Farrer, Mrs. J. Stanger. . . . 211-222

I. " Traveling Onward." — Differences of Mental Perspective in the Contemplation of Truth. — Doctrine of the Millennium. — Symbolism in the Bible. — "Messiah's Kingdom" and the " Reign of the Saints" both signify the Establishment of Christianity. — Literal Explanation of the latter Prophecy by some of the Fathers not Founded on Tradition. (211, 212.)

II. Critique on the Early Poems of Elizabeth Barrett (Mrs. Browning). — Favorite Pieces. — Exuberance of her Style Inappropriate to Solemn Themes. — Hasty Objections made by Miss B to the Ideal Philosophy of Berkeley, and to the Wolfian Theory of Homer. (213-215.) III. Gladsomeness

a Natural Gift of Childhood. — Severe Discipline not Suited to the Period of Early Youth. (215, 216.) IV. The Temple Church. — Color in Architecture. (216.) V. Use of Metrical Rules in Poetry. — Versification of

"Christabel" and "The Ancient Mariner." — Artificial Character of some

of the Greek Metres. (216,217.) VI. The " Life of Arnold" a Book to

be "Gloried in." — The Visible Church not to be Identified with any Single System. — Dr. Arnold's Opinion that there ought to be no Distinction between the Clergy and the Laity. (217, 218.) VII. "Nothing to Do." —

Isaac Taylor's Suggestion that there will be Work as well as Rest in Heaven. — Sea-side Views and Walks. — Fellow-lodgers. — Idleness and Extravagance of London Shop-keepers. — Two Sorts of Diffuseness. — Lord Eldon. — Reflections on his Character and Portrait. (21S-221.) VIII. Religious Discussion Necessary to the Church ; and Useful, under Certain Conditions, to the Individual Christian. (221,222.)

CHAPTER XIII.— 1845.

Letters to the Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge, Hartley Coleridge, Esq., Aubrey de Vere, Esq., Miss Morris, Miss Erskine, Mrs. Farrer, the Hon. Mrs. Henry Taylor 223-246

I. Memories of her Native Vale. — The Quarterly Review a greater Authority on Practical than on Poetical Matters.— Dr. Arnold as a Man and a Writer.— His Peculiar Theory of Church and State.— Definition of Humility

Contents. xxi

and Modesty, suggested by a Note in the " Northern Worthies." (223-226.)

II. The Royal Academy of 1845. — Turner's Painting. (226, 227.)

III. Visitors before Luncheon. (227, 228.) IV. Interpretations of Scripture

Prophecies by Writers of the Evangelical School. — Antichristian Character of the Papacy supposed to be Predicted by the " Little Horn " in the Book of Daniel, the "Man of Sin" in the Second Epistle to the Thcssalonians, and "Babylon the Great" in the Revelations. — Contents of the Sixth Vial. — Shelley's Atheism. — Not Papal, but Pagan Rome the Real Object of the

Apocalyptic Denunciations. (22S-230.) V. Occasional Recurrence of

Millennial Preachings. — Unpractical Nature of the Doctrine. — Bearing of the Parable of the Ten Virgins on this Subject. — Various Styles of Contemporary Divines. (231,232.) VI. Dr. Pusey's Preaching. (232.) VII.

Sunset over the Sea. (232.) VIII. Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine's College. (233.) IX. Reunion of Christendom. — The Romish Clergy and the Roman Church. (233-235.) X. " New Heavens and a New

Earth." (235, 236.) XI. Poetry of Keats: its Beauties and Defects. —

"The Grecian Urn" and "Endymion." (236-239.) XII. Sudden Death

of her Mother. — Reflections on the Event. (240.) XIII. Peculiar Sense

of Solitude arising from the Loss of a Parent. — Editorial Labors on the "Biographia Literaria." — Mr. Coleridge's Immense Reading, and Striking

Quotations made from Obscure Authors. (241, 242.) XIV. " S. T. C. on

the Body." — The Essential Principle of Life not Dependent on the Material Organism.— Teaching of St. Paul on this Point. — The Glorified Humanity of Christ. — Disembodied Souls. — Natural Regrets arising from the Thought of our Great Change. (242-246.)

CHAPTER XIV.— 1846, January-July.

Letters to Aubrey de Vere, Esq., Rev. Frederick D. Maurice, Henry Taylor, Esq., Miss Morris, Mrs. H. M. Jones, Mrs. Richard Townsend 247-276

I. The Conviction of Sin. — Exaggerated Self-Accusations of the Religious.— Substantial Agreement among Christians of all Denominations. (247, 248.) II. Grace in Baptism. (249.) III. Defense of Mr. Coleridge's View of Baptism. — Regeneration, in its Primary Sense, means the Work of God upon the Soul, which leads to Sanctification. — Baptism effects a Change of State (not of Nature) by giving the Promise of the Holy Spirit. — "The Gospel of the Poor." — Use of Rationalism in rectifying Popular Theology. — Negative Character of German Philosophy.

(249-252.) IV. "Moral Effects the Test of Spiritual Operations." —

Dream-Verses. — Milton's Beauty. (252, 253.) V. Originality of Milton's

Genius. — Love of Nature Displayed in his Poetry. (253,254.) VI.

Blanco White. — Comparison between his State of Mind and that of Cow-

per and of Shelley. (254, 255.) VII. Character of her Mother. (255.)

VIII. Unfair Criticism of Mr. Coleridge's Religious Opinions. — His

MS. Notes. — Care taken of them by Mr. Southey. (256.) IX. Beauties

of Crabbe. (256, 257.) X. Reflections of an Invalid. — Defense of Luther.

xxii Contents.

— Charges of Irreverence often Unjustly Made. — Ludicrous Illustration found in a Sermon of Bishop Andrewes'. — Education : how far it may be Secular without being Irreligious. — Mr. Keble's "Lyra Innocentium." —

Religious Poetry. (257-260.) XI. Composition of " Phantasmion." —

Love in Fairy-land. (261, 262.) XII. Comparative Merits of the Earlier

and Later Poems of Wordsworth. — Burns. (263.) XIII. Classification

of Mr. Wordsworth's Poems, with a View to Proving the Superiority of the Earlier Ones over the Later. — Earlier Poems : Meditative ; Lyrical. — Poems of Incidents : Reflective and Pathetic. — Poems of Sentiment : Reflective and Imaginative ; Descriptive. — Ballad Poems. — Homely Strains.

— Sonnets. — Later Poems. (264-273.) XIV. Critique on " Laodamia."

— Want of Truth and Delicacy in the Sentiments attributed to the Wife in that Poem. — No Moral Lessons of any Value to be Drawn from such a Misrepresentation. — Superior Beauty and Fidelity of a Portrait taken from the Life. — Leading Idea of Shelley's " Sensitive Plant." (273-276.)

CHAPTER XV.— 1846, July-December.

Letters to Aubrey de Vere, Esq., Rev. Henry Moore, Miss Fenwick, Mrs. Farrer, Miss Moore.. . . 277-298

I. Mr. Ruskin's " Modern Painters." (277.) II. A Talk with Mr. Car-

lyle. — Money as the Reward of Virtue. — Different Effects of Sorrow on Different Minds. — Miss Fenwick. — Milton, Good as well as Great. (277-

279.) III. A Picture. (279.) IV. Danger of Exclusiveness in Parental

Affection. (279, 280.) V. St. Augustine's College.— Holiday Tasks.— The

Evening Gray and the Morning Red. (280-282.) VI. " Saintism."

Untrustworthiness of Religious Autobiographies. (282, 283.) VII. Human Sorrow and Heavenly Rest. — "The Golden Manual." — Blue and White in Sky, Sea, and Land. — Landor's " Pentameron." — Comparative

Rank of Homer, Shakespeare, Milton, and Dante. (283-286.) VIII.

Age and Ugliness. — "Expensive Blessings." — jEschylus. — Principle of Pindaric Metre, and Spirit of Pindaric Poetry.— Physical and Intellectual

Arts of Greece. (286-2SS.) IX. Miss Farrer. (288-290.) X. On the

Establishment. — The Church Supported by the State, not in its Catholic,

but in its National Character.— Bishops in Parliament. (290, 291.) XI.

The "Divina Commedia."— Barbarous Conception of the World of Fallen Spirits exhibited in the "Inferno." — Dante compared with Milton, Lucretius, and Goethe.— Dante as Poet, Philosopher and Politician. (291-295.)

XII. Dante's Lucifer and Milton's Satan.— The Anthropomorphism

of Milton an Inheritance of the Past.— Personality of the Evil Spirit- Confusion between the Spiritual and the Material in the "Divina Commsdia." — Poetic Merits of Dante. (295-298.)

Contents. xxiii

CHAPTER XVI.— 1847, January -July.

Letters to Aubrey de Vere, Esq., Hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge, Miss Fenwick, Miss Erskine, Miss Morris, Miss Trevenen 299-316

I. Characters of Milton, Charles the First, and Oliver Cromwell. (299.)

II. Reserve in Friendship. — A Labor of Love. — Dedication of the Second Edition of the "Biographia Literaria" to Mr. Wordsworth. — "The Silence of Old Age." (299, 300.) III. A Visit to Bath.— Her Son's Eton Successes.— School-boy Taste. — The Athanasian Creed. — Doctrine of the Filial Subordination not contained in it. — The Damnatory Clauses. — Candor in Argument. (301-303.) IV. Reasons why Popular Fallacies on Religious Subjects ought to be Exposed. — Gradual Advance of the Human Mind in the Knowledge of Divine Truth. — Admission of Objections to the