326. To Samuel Purkis

Address: Samuel Purkis E[sqre] | Brentford MS. New York Public Lib. Hitherto unpublished. Postmark: 15 March 1800.

Saturday 2 o clock [ 15 March 1800]

My dear Purkis

Just before your [Draft arrived] 1 I concluded a Bargain with Longman, who is to give me a 100£ for my Tour in the North of England 2 -- to be advanced immediately. -- Of course, I shall [return your Draft] -- nay, to talk big, I can accomodate you with a Draft for 50£. 3 -- Amazing, how a little Prosperity turns an Author's head! -- I find, that I can with tolerable ease get 300£ a year by my pen -- so that Authorship is really no such very bad speculation. -- I will not quit Town without spending 2 or three Days with you, provided it be to you perfectly convenient----
____________________
1 	Words in brackets inked out in manuscript.
2 	Coleridge did not publish his tour of the north of England, but Letter 300 shows that he had such a plan in mind. His notebook entries for the tour were published by the Rev. G. H. B. Coleridge in 1989. See headnote to Letter 299.
3 	For Coleridge's complicated financial dealings with Purkis see Letters 309 and 329.

-580-
	
 Don't come to town without calling----Affectionate Respects to Mrs Purkis -- & love to your dear Children. Mrs Coleridge is rather better, I think --  1

Your's affectionately, S. T. Coleridge