It was with no little pleasure that I recognized your hand writing yesterday upon a casket (fit word for what contains a treasure) of that sea plant

which I conceive to have originally sprung from ambrosia seeds dropt by Jupiter when he took the water with Europa

, & “evolved thro all the intestinal God”.

Some five & twenty years <ago> I thought of relating its history in verse, in honour of a preparation which in flavour bears witness to its Olympian derivation, & in appearance to the theotaurine vehicle wherein it was committed to the sea-shore.

– I was very glad also to see where a letter would find you, – not having for a long time known in what part of this wide world you were to be found. The question was asked of me six or eight months ago by Ticknor, who was desirous of writing to you. Tell me where I may tell him to direct, – for at Bath I suppose you are only a bird of passage.

I am at this time employed more continuously upon one thing than is usual with me, that I may the sooner take wing for a longer flight & longer absence than I like to think of, – to London first, – then Devonshire, & to Norwich on my way back. Probably I shall [MS torn]t town <London> about the second week in May,

– which of all times in the year xis that which a lover of the country would with the most reluctance pass in town. Wordsworth is there at present with his wife, & Miss Hutchinson. He has been placing his <eldest> son at Oxford.

His daughter left us this morning to return to her Aunt at Rydal. – M^rs Coleridge <& Sara> have been making a round of visits since the beginning of November: they are now at Ottery with M^r C’s relations, – & their last visit will be to Poole on their way home.

Since last I saw you my course of life has been xxxx very little varied, – thank Heaven it has been disturbed by no afflictions, which after a certain stage are almost the only variations we have to expect. Edith is now a young woman; – Bertha has almost shot up to the an equal stature; – the two other girls

keeping their due proportion, & so grown out of playthings; & Cuthbert, thank God, a fine & thriving boy. For myself I am in better condition than I have been for several years, owing mainly to a course of exercise commenced last summer, & steadily continued till this time. If you ask whether I am “a sadder & a wiser man”,

the children will answer no, without hesitation; – but I perhaps should hesitate before I replied to the first part of the question. With regard to the second – I hope I shall always be able to say, Anch’ io imparo.

Your brother

would think so if he saw me reading nursery-tales in German,

as a daily lesson, for myself, from which the young ones are not willing to grant me a holyday. I have learnt a little of the Danish during the winter, & in due time shall get at the Teutonic sources of our language, – & of our literature as far as these exist.

The book which I am now finishing is my long-meditated sketch of English Ecclesiastical History.

It will provoke obloquy enough I dare say from bigots of every denomination: but I think it will have the effect not indeed of altering any persons opinions, – but of confirming those of many, – & giving many a right bias when they begin their course. In the course of my reading it has been mortifying to observe, with what want of care, & still more with what want of good faith & good feeling this subject has been usually treated.