324. To Daniel Stuart

Address: Mr Stuart MS. British Museum. Pub. Letters from the Lake Poets, 4.

Eleven o/clock -- [ 1 March 1800] 2

Dear Sir

I feel more uncomfortably respecting my conduct to you for these last ten day[s,] than I have had occasion to feel on any occasion for these last 20 months -- Your last note has just reached me / the former is here, but I have not read it, having been out of London to avoid Interruptions --. -- Whether we continue con-
____________________
1 	By the bye, there is no such Creature. But in similies if a Phoenix, why not a winged spider? [Note by S. T. C.]
2 	This letter mentions that Mrs. Coleridge and Hartley 'leave London to morrow'. They were in London on 1 Mar.; on 3 Mar. Coleridge was already at Lamb's, and had been 'tipsy' the night before at Godwin's. Mrs. Coleridge left London, therefore, on 2 Mar., to spend a month with the Roskillys at Kempsford.

-578-
	
 	

nected or no, I consider myself as two full weeks' Work in your Debt for that which I have already received --. -- These cursed Plays play the Devil with me -- I have been working from morning to night, & almost half the night too, & yet get on too slowly for the Printer -- & Mr Longman is kept in constant [dread] that some rival Translation may pop out before mine -- and beside this, my wife & child leave London to morrow, & I was particularly desirous to have done enough to give me some claim to draw on him for the few Pounds which I must draw on him, for their Journey. -- These Things I mention not as justifications of my breach of Promise, but as palliations. So much for the Past -- for the future thus much. -- In about four or five Days I shall have finish'd the first Play -- & that 'being finished, I may go on more leisurely with the others. -- I shall then be able to give you some assistance -- probably as much as you may want -- a certain number of Essays I consider myself bound to send you as soon as possible, in common honesty. After these, if it be worth your while, I will do what I can -- only not for any regular Stipend. -- That harrasses me -- I know, that hitherto I have received from you much more than I have earned -& this must not be----I have no objection to be payed for what I do, but a great objection to be paid for what I ought to do----.

This Translation Fag has almost knocked me up -- / & I am so confused that I scarcely know whether I have expressed myself intelligibly --. My Wife goes to morrow Evening -- & I shall be at No 36, Chapel Street, Pentonville 1 -- My Papers you will be so kind as to have left at your Office, till they are called for -- but Mr Wedgewood's must be sent among your other papers -- the Address

Jos. Wedgewood Esq. | Cornwallis House | Clifton, | Bristol --

I will certainly fill you out a good Paper on Sunday /

Mrs Coleridge desires me to send her respects, & to thank you for your civilities to her----

Your's S. T. Coleridge