An apparently unpublished Samuel Taylor Coleridge letter

to an unnamed correspondent c. 1818

 

New Acquisition for Coleridge Cottage March 2003

 

© Friends of Coleridge

 

Apologising for the lateness of an article, and referring to his forthcoming lecture and his current concern with the plight of the ‘Cotton Factory Children’. Although undated, the letter seems to have been written in early spring 1818, with Sir Robert Peel’s Bill on behalf of the Cotton Factory Children being discussed in Parliament and STC ‘writing as hard as I can put pen to paper’ on their behalf. The unnamed correspondent appears to be an editor, possibly Holland of the New Monthly Magazine who had approached STC soliciting contributions earlier in the year.

As for the article’s delay: ‘... Procrastination is a monopoly... of your sincere & with respectful esteem affectionate Friend/ S. T. Coleridge (Letter to Henry Crabb Robinson, Collected Letters, no.1130).

 

Transcription:

 

My dear Sir

                        I almost fear, this may be too late—but I have made it so short, that I hope, you may be able to find a corner for it.–  I want sadly to have a little political chit chat with you— I hope, I shall see you on Thursday: for I feel confident, that you will be more than usually pleased with the Lecture—

Your obliged

S. T. Coleridge —

 

P.S. I pray do what you can and may in behalf of the poor Cotton Factory Children. I have just written a little article, and am preparing a brief popular statement./