COLERIDGE AND SOUTHEY.
[TO THE EDITOR OP Tai SPIICTATOR."1 Sra,—In your review of Mr. Ashe's memoir of S. T. Coleridge, you say with reference to Coleridge's obligations to Southey that "we are not told " how his wife and family "managed to live after 1811 on 275 a year." Your language seems to imply that Mrs. Coleridge's income was thenceforth limited to the moiety of the Wedgwood Annuity ; but it is certain that Coleridge sent money to his wife after that date. You also affirm that Coleridge's sons were sent to College through Southey's influence. Hartley held a postmastership at Merton, and the balance of his allowance was made up, on Southey's application, by Coleridge's relations and friends. It was neither through Southey's influence nor on his application that funds were provided for my father's University career. It is quite impossible to over-estimate the debt of gratitude which Coleridge and his family owed to Southey ; but at this distance of time it is hardly possible to make up an account which was never kept, and it is unfair to assume that the balance against Coleridge was dishonourably or discreditably large. I have ventured to make these statements, as I gather from the review in question that it was written solely with a desire to record the truth.—I am, Sir, &c., ERNEST HARTLEY COLERIDGE.
Rossdhu, Lusa, N.B., August 17th.
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