It does not appear from Mr. Stuart how many essays in all Mr. Coleridge contributed to _The Morning Post_ and _The Courier_. Mr. C. himself mentions several in the tenth chapter of the _Biographia Literaria_. All these have been copied, and will be republished hereafter.[35] I happen to possess also his contributions to _The Courier_ in 1811. They are numerous, though not daily; which I have now no means of ascertaining. The Critique on _Bertram_ first appeared in that Paper, I believe in 1816. Mr. Stuart admits that some of the poems published by Mr. C. in _The Morning Post_ before his going to Germany made a "great impression:" that on Mr. C.'s proposing "personally on the spot and by daily exertion to assist him in the conduct of the Paper," he "grasped at the engagement," and "no doubt solicited" him "in the most earnest manner to enter upon it;" that his "writings produced a greater effect in _The Morning Post_ than any others." In his letter of September 19, 1835, Mr. S. says "The most remarkable things Coleridge published in _The Morning Post_ were _The Devil's Thoughts_ and the _Character of Pitt_. Each of these made a sensation, which any writings unconnected with the news of the day rarely did." Elsewhere he says, "Several hundred sheets extra were sold by them, and the paper was in demand for days and weeks afterwards. Coleridge promised a pair of portraits, Pitt and Buonaparte. I could not walk a hundred yards in the streets but I was stopped by inquiries, 'When shall we have Buonaparte?' One of the most eager of these inquirers was Dr. Moore, author of _Zeluco_." In the letter mentioned just above he says "At one time Coleridge engaged to write daily for _The Courier_ on the news of the day, and he did attend very regularly and wrote; but as it was in the spring, when the Paper was overwhelmed with debates and advertisements (and Street always preferring news, and a short notice of it in a leading paragraph to any writing however brilliant,) little or nothing that he wrote was inserted from want of room. Of this he repeatedly complained to me, saying that he would not continue to receive a salary without rendering services. I answered, 'Wait till Parliament is up; we shall then have ample room, and shall be obliged to you for all you can give us.' When Parliament rose Coleridge disappeared, or at least discontinued his services."
Photography Digest
Biographia Epistolaris Volume 2 — Part 47
2026-11-16 06:24:31 · Cedar Herald Index
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