MS location unknown. Printed in Coleridge, Life, 333-4.
My dear Mary
This is Mr. C.’s paper; please return it as I want to keep the Hursley papers. I did not see the original articles, nor have I read the horrid book, but the day that the Church Times had its article came one of A.’s letters admiring it.1 I wrote strongly to her on the danger of being fascinated with such books, and the horrid irreverence, and I also wrote to the Ch. T. saying what you see. Then they put in what you also see, and there followed on Saturday this clergyman’s defence. I wrote and sent yesterday pretty much what I had said to Annie of the shocking irreverence of ‘flights of imagination’ and ‘inaccuracy’ in dealing with inspired writings and the Death; I durst not say more for fear of betraying my not having read it. And all this did settle Annie, also finding the Thompsons had been shocked from the first, and she gave in nicely. I dwelt too, both to her and in this letter of yesterday, on the evil of fictitious narratives coming into one’s head on Good Friday; but as my letter went yesterday, I don’t like to add what you say to go by the next post in the same writing. Only I think it would be very good for all concerned if you would be so good as to write a letter to the editor putting in what you have said to me and anything besides. Of course the editor must have your name, but you need not sign it in your own. There must be a fascination in the book; I believe she is a woman given to spiritualism, perhaps on her way to better things. Dear old Mary comes on here after Sidmouth! Milton’s minor poems seem to have been written at intervals all through his better days. Thanks for these emendations; I think the papers must have been misprints
Your affectionate
C. M. Y.
Please do this to the paper; it ought to be assailed on all sides. They say the Guardian commended it. It was some time ago, and my impression is that it treated it slightly, as not so bad as it might be. Mr. C. ought to know he has done a shocking thing in recommending such a book; the more censure he has the better.