Coleridge's Fanuary 23rd.-In the evening at Drury Lane, to Remorse. see the first performance of Coleridge's tragedy,

"Remorse."* I sat with Amyot, the Hamonds, Godwins, &c. My interest for the play was greater than in the play, and my anxiety for its success took from me the feeling of a mere spectator. I have no hesitation in saying that its poetical is far greater than its dramatic merit, that it owes its success rather to its faults than to its beauties, and that it will have for its less meritorious qualities applause which is really due to its excellences. Coleridge's great fault is that he indulges before the public in those metaphysical and philosophical speculations which are becoming only in solitude or with select minds. His two principal characters are philosophers of Coleridge's own school; the one a sentimental moralist, the other a sophisticated villain-both are dreamers. Two experiments made by Alvez on his return, the one on his mistress by relating a dream, and the other when he tries to kindle remorse

* Coleridge had complained to me of the way in which Sheridan spoke in company of his tragedy. He told me that Sheridan had said that in the original copy there was in the famous cave scene this line,

"

'Drip! Drip! Drip! There's nothing here but dripping."

However, there was every disposition to do justice to it on the stage, nor were the public unfavourably disposed towards it.

1813.

in the breast of Ordonio, are too fine-spun to be intel- CHAP. XVI. ligible. However, in spite of these faults, of the improbability of the action, of the clumsy contrivance with the picture, and the too ornate and poetic diction throughout, the tragedy was received with great and almost unmixed applause, and was announced for repetition without any opposition.

last lecture.

January 26th.-Heard Coleridge's concluding lecture. Coleridge's He was received with three rounds of applause on entering the room, and very loudly applauded during the lecture and at its close. That Coleridge should ever become a popular man would at one time have been thought a very vain hope. It depends on himself; and if he would make a sacrifice of some peculiarities. of taste (his enemies assert that he has made many on essential points of religion and politics), he has talents to command success. His political opinions will suit a large portion of the public; and, though not yet a general favourite, the appreciation of his genius is spreading.

on Goethe.

February 2nd. I went with Aders to see Coleridge, Coleridge who spoke to my German friend of Goethe with more warmth than usual. He said that if he seemed to depreciate Goethe it was because he compared him. with the greatest of poets. He thought Goethe had, from a sort of caprice, underrated the talent which in his youth he had so eminently displayed in his "Werter"—that of exhibiting man in a state of exalted sensibility. In after life he delighted in representing objects of pure beauty, not objects of desire and passion-rather as statues or paintings—

408

1813.

Acquaintance with

CHAP. XVI. therefore he called Goethe picturesque. Coleridge accused Schlegel of one-sidedness in his excessive admiration of Shakespeare.

Examina

tion.

Taljourd.

February 23rd.-I underwent a sort of examination from Mr. Hollist, the Treasurer of the Middle Temple. He inquired at what University I had been educated, and this caused me to state that I was a Dissenter, and had studied at Jena. This form being ended, all impediments to my being called to the Bar next term are cleared away.

This day a Mr. Talfourd called with a letter from Mr. Rutt; he is going to study the law, and wants information from me concerning economical arrangements; he has been for some time Dr. Valpy's head boy, and wishes, for a few years, to occupy himself by giving instruction or otherwise, so as to be no incumbrance to his father, who has a large family. a very promising young man indeed, has great powers of conversation and public speaking, not without the faults of his age, but with so much apparent vigour of mind, that I am greatly mistaken if he do not become a distinguished man.

He is

February 24th-Attended a conference in the vestry of the Gravel Pit Meeting, Mr. Aspland presiding. The subject was "Infant Baptism." Young Talfourd spoke in a very spirited manner, but in too oratorical a tone.* We walked from Hackney together; his youthful animation and eagerness excited my envy. It fell from

In his early life Mr. Talfourd was a Dissenter, and occasionally took part in the conferences held in the vestry at the Gravel Pit Meeting, Hackney, to discuss religious subjects.

1813.

him accidentally, that a volume of poems, written by CHAP. XVI. him when at school, had been printed, but that he was ashamed of them.

Rem.*-Talfourd combined great industry with great vivacity of intellect. He had a marvellous flow of florid language both in conversation and speech-making. His father being unable to maintain him in his profession, he had to support himself, which he did most honourably. He went into the chambers of Chitty, the great special pleader, as a pupil; but he submitted, for a consideration, to drudgery which would be thought hardly compatible with such lively faculties, and at variance with his dramatic and poetic taste. These, too, he made to a certain extent matters of business. He connected himself with magazines, and became the theatrical critic for several of them. He thereby contracted a style of flashy writing, which offended severe judges, who drew in consequence unfavourable conclusions which have not been realized. He wrote pamphlets, which were printed in the Pamphleteer, published by his friend Valpy. Among these was a very vehement eulogy of Wordsworth. He became intimate with Lamb, who introduced him to Wordsworth. It was in these words: "Mr. Wordsworth, I introduce to you Mr. Talfourd, my only admirer." That he became in after life the executor of Lamb and his biographer is well known. Among his early intimacies was that with the family of Mr. Rutt, to whose eldest daughter, Rachel, he became attached. After a time Talfourd came to me with the request that I would procure for him

* Written in 1847.

Talfourd in early days.

410

1813.

Talfourd.

CHAP. XVI. employment as a reporter for the Times, that he might be enabled to marry. This I did, and no one could fill the office more honourably, as was acknowledged by his associates on the Oxford Circuit. He made known at once at the Bar mess what he was invited to do. Others had done the same thing on other circuits secretly and most dishonourably. Consent was given by the Bar of his circuit; and in this way, as a writer for papers and magazines, and by his regular professional emoluments, he honourably brought up a numerous family. As his practice increased he gradually gave up writing for the critical press, and also his office of reporting. But when he renounced literature for emolument, he carried it on for fame, and became a dramatic writer. His first tragedy, "Ion," earned general applause, and in defiance of the advice of prudent or timid friends he wrote two other tragedies. He did not acquire equal reputation for these; probably a fortunate circumstance, as literary fame is no recommendation either to an Attorney or to a Minister who seeks for a laborious SolicitorGeneral. It was after he was known as a dramatist that Talfourd obtained a seat in Parliament,† where he distinguished himself by introducing a bill in favour of a copyright for authors, to which he was urged mainly by Wordsworth, who had become his friend.

* "Ion" was produced at Covent Garden Theatre in May, 1836. The principal character, first performed by Macready, was afterwards undertaken by Miss Ellen Tree. Talfourd's second tragedy, "The Athenian Captive," in which Macready played Thoas, was produced at the Haymarket, 1838. The third and least successful was "Glencoe," first represented at the Haymarket, May 23rd, 1840. Macready again played the hero.--G. S.

Talfourd was Member for Reading, where he had been a pupil at the Grammar School, under Dr. Valpy.