From thence I go to Salisbury, and thence to Christchurch, to see
Southey.
"This letter," Cottle says, "as was usual, has no date, but a letter
from Wordsworth determines about the time when Mr. C. had nearly
finished his Tragedy."
September 13, 1797.
"* * * Coleridge is gone over to Bowles with his Tragedy, which he has
finished to the middle of the 5th Act. He set off a week ago."
J. Dykes Campbell in his Life of Coleridge asserts that the Tragedy of
"Osorio" was sent to Drury Lane "without much hope that it would be
accepted."[1] This, however, is inaccurate. The play was not sent;
Coleridge went to London with it, for he writes to Cottle in the
beginning of September:
[Footnote 1: "Life", p. 78.]
LETTER 67. TO COTTLE
London (10-15 Sept.) 1797.
Dear Cottle,
If Mrs. Coleridge be in Bristol, pray desire her to write to me
immediately, and I beg you, the moment you receive this letter, to send
to No. 17, Newfoundland Street, to know whether she be there. I have
written to Stowey, but if she be in Bristol, beg her to write to me of
it by return of post, that I may immediately send down some
cash for her travelling expenses, etc. We shall reside in London for the
next four months.
God bless you, Cottle, I love you,
S. T. COLERIDGE.
P. S. The volume (second edition, Coleridge, Lloyd, and Lamb) is a most
beautiful one.
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