499. To William Godwin

MS. Lord Abinger. Hitherto unpublished.

Tuesday Morning -- [ 5 April 1803] 1

Dear Godwin

I am going to day to the equitable Assurance Society with Mr Ridout, one of the Managers, to ensure my Life for 1000£ -- Mr Ridout, who is a medical man, is my chief Affidavit / but as I must give reference to two persons, I shall refer them to you / it is simply a matter of form, to state that I have no distemper that tends to the shortening of Life -- taken in the popular sense of the words. --
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1 	Coleridge's Equitable Assurance Policy, T20743, is dated ' 7th April 1803', and this letter, therefore, was probably written on the Tuesday preceding. Furthermore, Godwin's son was born on 28 Mar. 1803, and Mary Lamb was taken to an asylum on 29 Mar. (See Letter 498.) She was much improved by 13 Apr. ( Lamb Letters, i. 344.)

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If I find that persons living in chambers may be Referees, I shall not trouble you; but shall refer to Mr White, or Mr Wordsworth. With all kind wishes for Mrs Godwin, & the least of your little ones, I am, dear Godwin, yours with much esteem & much affection

S. T. Coleridge

P.S. I hope, that Mary Lamb is rather better / her indisposition will prevent Charles from calling to know how Mrs Godwin is -- for some days. --
499 A. To J. G. Ridout

MS. Mr. F. H. Harrop (transcribed by Miss Helen Darbishire). Hitherto unpublished. Although the address sheet of this manuscript is missing, it seems certain that the letter was intended for J. G. Ridout, one of the managers of the Equitable Assurance Society. See Letter 499.

Greta Hall, Keswick, Friday Night April 15, 1802 [ 1803]

My dear Sir

I have been rather anxious from the not having heard from you, or received the Assurance Policy. I begin to suspect, that your Letter must have miscarried. -- Do, be so good as to give me a couple of Lines --

I arrived here safe on Good Friday Evening, 1 but caught the Influenza in the coach / I cured myself immediately by a grain of opium taken with Camphor & Rhubarb. --

I heard briefly from James Tobin / Remember me most affectionately to John Tobin, whom I like & esteem more & more / the more I know him. --

The Influenza spares no one at Keswick & in the circumjacency -Farewell! I am, | my dear Sir, | with no every day feeling of esteem | your obliged & | sincere Friend

S. T. Coleridge