MS location unknown. Printed in Coleridge, Life 260
My dear Marianne
Well, we have our Bishop, and I feel we really have.1 I never saw a Bishop in our throne, and I never saw the Cathedral like what it was to-day. I really feel some parts of the day were among the best delights of my life. To see that dear old Cathedral which in some respects is one of the things I love above all, doing as it ought to do, and ringing from everywhere with its voice, and overflowing with white robes, was something precious and delightful beyond all.
That whole space where the boys sit was one mass of clergy, and the effect was beautiful, the flow of the stoles and the hoods was so graceful. But that was not the best, the swell of voices in the Psalms gathering up the notes from the choir was so wonderful, and at the end the Hallelujah Chorus, sung by all who could sing, was magnificent. The anthem was that piece of St. Peter that ends with the grass withereth, etc.2 At first it rather startled me, till I thought of St. Swithin and William of Wykeham, and Beaufort and Fox and Andrews, and all coming and being enthroned and passing away, and the Te Deum and Creed and Psalms and all the rest keeping the same. There was no sermon, indeed the service lasted from 11.30 till 2. I was very well off for seeing – in that seat where I think I took you last time we went together, just opposite the throne, but certainly ecclesiastical functions take a good deal out of one, I have not been so tired I don’t know when. Happily this fierce rain did not come on till the procession to St. Lawrence was over. The old Dean did everything, and was at the Mayor’s dejeuner when I came away from the Deanery. I just shook hands with the Bishop.3