200. To Josiah Wade Address: Mr Wade | No 6 Berkley Place Bristol Transcript Coleridge family. Pub. E.L.G. i. 80. Aug -- 1. [17]97 My very dear Friend I meant to have surprized you by a visit at Berkley Place -- and therefore did not immediately answer your letter -- Were I going on a Journey to Paradise I would defer it, to have the pleasure of seeing you a week at Stowey. I pray you come -- do, do, my dear Wadel In very sincerity I know nothing in the ordinary events of life that would give me so great pleasure -- Your letter cheered -338- me. I was gloomy at your silence -- You misunderstood my letter. I meant only to say, that I should write so quick, that you could not answer my first before you would receive my second letter. From this I was prevented by reviews and a strange Visitor -and then I knew not where to direct to you, my dear fellow! do not let there be such pauses in our correspondence. I will pledge myself to write you once every fortnight -- if you will repay my letters. What can I say to you of your dear Baby? I heard of it, only from your Letter. A Tear came into my eye -- and I have sighed many times since, when I have been walking alone: -- and the pretty Lamb has passed across my Memory. -- And all the comfort we can offer on such occasions, is sympathy. Sara has had a miscarriage -- but in so very early a stage, that it occasioned but little pain, one day's indisposition and no confinement. -- Indeed, the circumstance is quite unknown, except to me. My little Hartley grows a beautiful child. -- T. Poole would be most joyful to behold your face. John Thelwall is a very warm hearted honest man -- and disagreeing, as we do, on almost every point of religion, of morals, of politics, and of philosophy; we like each other uncommonly well -He is a great favorite with Sara. Energetic Activity, of mind and of heart, is his Master-feature. He is prompt to conceive, and still prompter to execute --. But I think, that he is deficient in that patience of mind, which can look intensely and frequently at the same subject. He believes and disbelieves with impassioned confidence I wish to see him doubting and doubting. However, he is the man for action-he is intrepid, eloquent, and -- honest. -Perhaps the only acting Democrat, that is honest 1 for the Patriots are ragged cattle -- a most execrable herd -- arrogant because they are ignorant, and boastful of the strength of reason, because they have never tried it enough to know its weakness. -- O my poor [Then] by our sides Thy Sara, and my Susan, and, perchance, Allfoxden's musing tenant, and the maid Of ardent eye, who, with fraternal love, Sweetens his solitude. ____________________ 1 Thelwall arrived at Stowey on 17 July, visiting the Coleridges and at Alfoxden for ten days. ( Thomas Poole, i.232.) He was in Bristol by early August, for Wade, writing to Coleridge on 10 Aug., said: 'Thank you for the character of Thelwall. So far as I was able to judge it is very just. He dined with me on his return -- we went down to Pill by water & walk'd back. Some People would accuse him of too much levity; but you know my opinion is that there is, "a time for all things" -- we went out to be merry & laugh --'. In his poem, Lines written at Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, on the 27th of July, 1797, Thelwall contemplates the possibility of living near the households at Nether Stowey and Alfoxden: -339- Country! The Clouds cover thee -- there is not one spot of clear blue in the whole heaven. My love to all whom you love -- and believe [me] with brotherly affection, with esteem and gratitude, and every warm emotion of the heart, Your faithful S. T. Coleridge