436. To Thomas Poole

Address: Mr T. Pool | N. Stowey | Bridgewater | Somerset MS. British Museum. Hitherto unpublished. Postmark: 19 February 1802.

No /10 King's St Covent Garden Friday, Feb. 19, 1802

My dear Poole

Of all colors Greens are the most refreshing to weak eyes; but of all vegetables Greens are not the most comforting to weak Bowels. I dined yesterday with Southey, & unfortunately eat some Cole/ went home soon after dinner to write something for Stuart, when I was taken most violently in my bowels, & after an hour's colic & diarrhoea seized with a shivering fit, & went to bed / I was in a high fever till four o/ clock, when I fell into a gentle sleep, & I woke this morning quite recovered. With this exception my health has been on the Mend, since you left town / nor have I had any occasion for opiates of any kind -- neither did I take any last night. -- Your Letter arrived yesterday, with the Bristol post mark, Feb. 17 -- tho' it was dated Monday night. I gave it to Davy, to execute the commissions therein. -- I suppose that by this time you have reached Stowey -- Remember me kindly to Ward. Mr Ridout 1 called on me, & spent half an hour with me. He is a truly amiable man. Indeed, that whole family are a spot of sunshine in the moral World. I scarcely remember having seen so interesting a young Woman, as Mary Ward. -- You may be assured, that in a very short time the first sheet of my metaphysical work will go to the Press. -- My plans are to leave London, in a fortnight/ which time I employ in consulting the Books &c / & in finishing the History of the opinions concerning Space & Time for Mackintosh 2 -When I am more at leisure, I will write you more at length. The anecdote of G. Burnet was very interesting -- I suspected it in London & talked seriously with him; but he denied it. He is now however very happy -- without one earthly Thing to do, but talk Jacobinism with Citizen Stanhope, that glorious Minority of one! --

I have found it convenient to pay Howel for Cloathes &c with a
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1 	J. G. Ridout, Thomas Ward's uncle. See Letter 499.
2 	'A great metaphysical book is conceived and about to be born. Thomas Wedgewood the Jupiter whose brain is parturient -- Mackintosh the manmidwife -- a preface on the history of metaphysical opinions promised by Coleridge. This will perhaps prove an abortion. . . . It has, however, proceeded so far as to disturb the spiders, whose hereditary claim to Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus had not been disputed for many a year before. Time and Space are the main subjects of speculation.' Southey to William Taylor, 6 Feb 1802. Memoir of William Taylor, i. 398-9.

-787-
	
 draft -- therefore you will be so good as to destroy your's, & I send you instead a check on Stuart, who will pay it at sight -- I have deducted the 6£ 12/.

When next we meet, my dear Friend! may it be under bluer skies & a more genial Sun! -- God bless you,

& your affectionate S. T. Coleridge

P.S. We were in truth in much anxiety respecting your Draft on Cruckshank -- & of course, rejoiced at your recovery of it --