404 1812. Misunderstanding between CHAP. XV. heartening and even gloomy tone, which even I with all my love for her could not quite excuse. It provoked a very coarse review in the Quarterly, which many years afterwards Murray told me he was more ashamed of than any other article in the Review. Misunderstanding between Words worth and Coleridge. [During this year a misunderstanding arose between Coleridge and Wordsworth, to which, as "all's well that ends well," it is not improper to allude. The cause of the misunderstanding was the repetition to Coleridge, with exaggerations, of what, with a kindly intent, had been said respecting him by Wordsworth to a third person. C. Lamb thought a breach would inevitably take place, but Mr. Robinson determined to do all he could to prevent such a misfortune. Accordingly he set about the work of mediation, and he certainly did his part most thoroughly. Going repeatedly from one friend to the other, he was able to offer such explanations and to give such assurances that the ground of complaint was entirely removed, and the old cordiality was restored between two friends who, as he knew, loved and honoured each other sincerely. In these interviews he was struck alike with the feeling and eloquence of the one, and the integrity, purity, and delicacy shown by the other. On the 11th of May he went to Coleridge's, and found Lamb with him. The assassination of Mr. Perceval had just taken place.* The news deeply affected them, and they could hardly talk of anything else; but the Diary has this entry: "Coleridge said to me, in a half-whisper, that Wordsworth's letter had been perfectly satisfactory, and that he had answered it imme * See p. 377. Wordsworth and Coleridge. 405 1812. diately. I flatter myself, therefore, that my pains will CHAP. XV. not have been lost, and that through the interchange of statement, which but for me would probably never have been made, a reconciliation will have taken place most desirable and salutary."*—ED.] The Diary contains many details on this subject; but it has not been thought necessary to give them a place in these selections. Remorse. Coleridge's January 23rd.-In the evening at Drury Lane, to see the first performance of Coleridge's tragedy, "Remorse."* I sat sat with Amyot, the Hamonds, Godwins, &c. My interest for the play was greater than in the play, and my anxiety for its success took from me the feeling of a mere spectator. I have no hesitation in saying that its poetical is far greater than its dramatic merit, that it owes its success rather to its faults than to its beauties, and that it will have for its less meritorious qualities applause which is really due to its excellences. Coleridge's great fault is that he indulges before the public in those metaphysical and philosophical speculations which are becoming only in solitude or with select minds. His two principal characters are philosophers of Coleridge's own school; the one a sentimental moralist, the other a sophisticated villain—both are dreamers. Two experiments made by Alvez on his return, the one on his mistress by relating a dream, and the other when he tries to kindle remorse Coleridge had complained to me of the way in which Sheridan spoke in company of his tragedy. He told me that Sheridan had said that in the original copy there was in the famous cave scene this line,-- "Drip! Drip! Drip! There's nothing here but dripping." However, there was every disposition to do justice to it on the stage, nor were the public unfavourably disposed towards it. Coleridge's Lecture. 407 1813. in the breast of Ordonio, are too fine-spun to be intel- CHAP. XVI, ligible. However, in spite of these faults, of the improbability of the action, of the clumsy contrivance with the picture, and the too ornate and poetic diction throughout, the tragedy was received with great and almost unmixed applause, and was announced for repetition without any opposition. last lecture. January 26th.—Heard Coleridge's concluding lecture. Coleridge's He was received with three rounds of applause on entering the room, and very loudly applauded during the lecture and at its close. That Coleridge should ever become a popular man would at one time have been thought a very vain hope. It depends on himself; and if he would make a sacrifice of some peculiarities of taste (his enemies assert that he has made many on essential points of religion and politics), he has talents to command success. His political opinions will suit a large portion of the public; and, though not yet a favourite with the million, the appreciation of his genius is spreading. on Goethe, February 2nd.-I went with Aders to see Coleridge, Coleridge who spoke to my German friend of Goethe with more warmth than usual. He said that if he seemed to depreciate Goethe it was because he compared him with the greatest of poets. He thought Goethe had, from a sort of caprice, underrated the talent which in his youth he had so eminently displayed in his "Werter"—that of exhibiting man in a state of exalted sensibility. In after life he delighted in representing objects of pure beauty, not objects of desire and passion-rather as statues or paintings— CHAP. XVI. therefore he called Goethe picturesque. Coleridge accused Schlegel of one-sidedness in his excessive admiration of Shakespeare. 1813. Examina tion. Talfourd. February 23rd.-I underwent a sort of examination from Mr. Hollist, the Treasurer of the Middle Temple. He inquired at what University I had been educated, and this caused me to state that I was a Dissenter, and had studied at Jena. This form being ended, all impediments to my being called to the Bar next term are cleared away. This day a Mr. Talfourd called with a letter from Mr. Rutt; he is going to study the law, and wants information from me concerning economical arrangements; he has been for some time Dr. Valpy's head boy, and wishes, for a few years, to occupy himself by giving instruction or otherwise, so as to be no incumbrance to his father, who has a large family. He is a very promising young man indeed, has great powers of conversation and public speaking, not without the faults of his age, but with so much apparent vigour of mind, that I am greatly mistaken if he do not become a distinguished man. February 24th.—Attended a conference in the vestry of the Gravel Pit Meeting, Mr. Aspland presiding. The subject was "Infant Baptism." Young Talfourd spoke in a very spirited manner, but in too oratorical a tone.* We walked from Hackney together; his youthful animation and eagerness excited my envy. It fell from * In his early life Mr. Talfourd was a Dissenter, and occasionally took part in the conferences held in the vestry at the Gravel Pit Meeting, Hackney, to discuss religious subjects. |