Southey, Robert.

on literary and personal subjects, the first including criticism of the mode of publication of Coleridge's periodical The Friend and suggesting a more logical arrangement of essays according to 'amusement' or more serious matter ("...so as to put the great children who read it in good humour...so that they may be ready with open mouth to swallow a tonic bolus every now & then before they are aware of what is coming..."), agreeing with Coleridge's thesis that "those mad scenes in Jeronymo [The Spanish Tragedy] to be Shakespeares" and commenting sharply that "George Coleridge's conduct exemplifies the precious consequences of substituting faith for good works, & talking about religion till you cease to feel it", the second about the unauthorised publication of his 'Wat Tyler' ("...I have no reason to regret the apparition of my Uncle Wat, since with the recollection of old times, it has brought back some of their feelings also..."), his legal attempts to prevent its publication ("...I learn also that they have procured a man to perjure himself, & swear that I made a free gift of the manuscript...") and angry accusations against publishers ("...I am at issue with the Grand Murray & some of his privy council...I have not heard who was the Resurrection-Man in Uncle Wats affair, it will come out in due time, & may very possibly be traced to the Old Serpent coterie..."), in total 7 pages, 4to and 8vo, address panels, one letter with postal marks, Keswick, 25 [October 1809] and 21 March 1817, seal tears, light soiling

Coleridge family collection, formerly the property of Rev. Nicholas Coleridge (1918-1976), sale in these rooms, 13 December 2007, lot 58

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Coleridge's journal The Friend had been launched on 1 June 1809. Despite his declaration in early November 1809 (Collected Letters, III, 260, No. 792) that he would take Southey's advice given in the present letter, the periodical ran for a total of only twenty-eight issues until 15 March 1810. The later letter reveals in substantial detail the deep embarrassment felt by Southey, now highly conservative and Poet Laureate, at the reappearance of a work of his radical youth.