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there? We find such a difficulty in hiring timber carriage, and they charge so extravagantly, that I am going to buy a carriage and hire horses there. We are certain, though it will cost a little trouble, that it will well pay.' This was written on December 27, and in allusion to the Christmas holidays he adds: 'I forgot to mention in my last that I was vexed and disappointed at not being able to meet your Jos. in his way from School, at Bridgwater; but I was obliged on that day to attend a Meeting of Justices on some business of considerable consequence to this Parish. I hope nothing will prevent my seeing him on his return, and do allow him to pass a few days with me. Seeing him for a few minutes is really nothing." In a previous business letter he had written: 'I am truly happy to hear you have escaped so well the breaking up of the Continent. I trust you will some day or another be paid your debts, for there is yet honour left among private men.’2

1 Poole to Wedgwood, December 27, 1806. Mayer MSS.

2 Ibid. December 20, 1806. Mayer MSS.

814

POOLE'S OPINIONS OF BONAPARTE.

CHAPTER X.

Poole's Letters-His Dislike to Bonaparte-Regrets profoundly Coleridge's neglect in writing Thomas Wedgwood's Life-Wool Trade-Cornish Mines-Literary Materials sent to Sir J. Mackintosh-Poole's Work on the Poor Laws-Bark and Leather-George Coleridge-Sickness in his School-Mr. Wedgwood's Generosity-Poole's Description of S. T. Coleridge and his Children-Whitbread's Educational Schemes -Coleridge's Letter from Bridgewater-His Trial of the Bath WatersThe Portland Administration-The Life of Colonel HutchinsonBadness of Trade-Coleridge's Lectures-Davy's Analysis of Water -Exports to America-Decorations on Table Ware-A SwindlerPastile Burners for the Bishop of Winchester-Interesting Notice of Aaron Steel-His Vase Painting-Irish Trade-Warehouse in Dublin-Mr. Byerley's Remarks on Bentley-These valuable to Connoisseurs-Richard Lovell Edgeworth-Proposes to make his Son a Potter-Mr. Wedgwood's Opinion-Orders in Council-Henry Brougham-The Fate of Eastbury.

DURING 1807 and 1808 Poole's letters to Mr. Wedgwood were numerous, and many of them are preserved. They refer frequently to Coleridge in this the saddest and darkest period of the poet's life, and they are interesting from the variety of other subjects touched upon. Poole was a staunch Whig, yet it is curious to find him a protectionist where his trade was concerned. Like many other sensible Englishmen of his time, he judged Bonaparte to be no better than a military adventurer, and his power but a baseless despotism; though defeat and collapse came much less quickly than he imagined they would. Writing to Mr. Wedgwood on business, Poole continued: "We thank you for all the trouble you take on this business, as well as for the pleasant accommodation which your advancing

COLERIDGE'S DILATORINESS.

315

the money has afforded us. has afforded us. The political prospects of the Party you met in London are melancholy indeed. From the various accounts we have from Poland, I know not what to believe: but if Buonaparte met with one decisive defeat, he would fall like a Balloon bursting in the highest clouds. If the Continent be subdued, I think we may stand, if we are worthy of standing. Our Falling will be the proof of our unworthyness. I should very much like to meet you in London in the Spring, and your being in London will be one great inducement, added to the many I feel, to pass a few weeks there if I can. Do let me know at what time you will be there. If Jos. be not gone to school, pray inform me of the day on which he will pass through Bridgewater, as I wish much to see him, and will be really disappointed if I do not. I can say nothing in extenuation of Coleridge's conduct, and it is useless and afflicting to make the observations which it deserves; but I mean to write to Davy shortly, and as Coleridge is to exhibit at the Royal Institution, I will desire Davy to ascertain if Coleridge is doing anything concerning your dear Brother's Life, or if he intends doing anything. I should like to see much your Place and your Improvements in Staffordshire, and see I trust I will, with your good leave, before I am a twelvemonth older. I know not if the non-importation of Spanish wool will make our mixt wools of readier sale: but certes, the chief obstacle now to the increase of the mixt breed is the tardiness of the Clothiers in purchasing the wool. They will not give nearly its real value. To whom did you sell your mixt wool at Gunville? I will surely send you a Hh of painted Ladies, if I can procure them; but I am afraid the sort is got out of this neighbourhood. Shall I send a Hha

316 LITERARY MATERIALS SENT TO MACKINTOSH.

of the Kidneys with them, which we think a very good Potatoe? Your Testimony of Willmott gives me very great pleasure. I shall be truly glad to hear the poor fellow has a situation. . . Have you heard that Davy is elected Secretary to the Royal Society, a situation, I suppose, of honour and profit ? '1

To this letter Mr. Wedgwood wrote in reply: 'How agreeably we have been disappointed by the opening speech of Lord H. Petty. The arrangement to carry on the war without more taxes appears to me a trait of genius, and I have no doubt will make the Ministry popular at home and place our peace resources in a formidable point of view to Buonaparte. I trust your expectations of one decisive defeat of the French will be put to the test, and that the result will do honour to your sagacity. I own I do not believe one defeat will ruin him. My going to London is quite uncertain. If I go I will let you know, and I hope we may meet there.'

Just previously to this date Poole had become an adventurer in a Cornish copper mine, and in relation thereto Mr. Wedgwood continues, 'I heard from Giddy lately that copper is so much reduced in price that the Cornish mines will be ruined. Have you begun to work your mine? If not, I suppose the state of the trade will prevent your carrying on the work. I have this day sent to Mackintosh my materials for my brother's life, and I have copied your just and able character of him. What I have furnished is very deficient in information, particularly as to his studies and the history of his speculations. I believe Leslie will help out in these respects, but I have yet received nothing from him, owing to a mistake between him and me. I hope

1 T. Poole to Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, January 28, 1807. Mayer MSS.

MANAGEMENT OF THE POOR.

317

Mackintosh will execute what he has undertaken; but he has been so long without doing anything, that I doubt whether he will or no. If you have preserved a letter I wrote you soon after my brother's death, I shall be obliged to you for a sight of it. I will return it, with my brother's letters to you. I hope you will not fail to let me see your work on the Management of the Poor, which I think a subject of the greatest importance to our national welfare, and on which I believe you are able to throw a great deal of light. In that, as in commerce, it will probably appear that true wisdom would consist in not regulating at all; but it would by no means follow that we can in either discard regulation at once. I am persuaded, however, that we must try to arrest the progress of the system that has been making such rapid advances. Jos. will go through Bridgewater on Saturday next, in the Exeter coach from Bristol. I am very sensible of your kindness in wishing to see him.'1

Poole was called by business unexpectedly to London, and on his way thither he wrote thus from the inn at Bridgewater: 'I am writing here at the George, waiting to see Jos.; and with an intention afterwards of proceeding in the Bath coach to Bath, and from Bath to London, where I hope to arrive Monday morning. You see I am in London before you, which I did not expect or think of when I wrote last. I am solicited in a way which, added to my other inducements, I cannot resist, to come up concerning the Bill which is now pending in Parliament relative to oak bark and to the leather manufacture. Our object is to prevent oak bark being bought to sell again, which has been

1 Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, to T. Poole, February 2, 1807. Mayer MSS.