New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SARA .COLERIDGE.

Brothers.
.,ruotiye study of character, although it did not
overflow with the sweet and tender graces which are
usually reckoned among the most charming traits OF
feminine excellence. Born with strong capacity
for emotion, her nature became almost absorbed IN
the exercise of intellect. With genuine taste for
POETRY and a certain liveliness of imagination, her
habitual tone of mind was delight in profound
Thought on the most abstract and subtle themes
which she pursued to the border land of obscurty'
without obtaining any precious fruit IN the search
Her gifts of perception were less Keen IMAM her CRU
cal faculties, and of creative power she gave paV
faint signs. Even her native fancy seems 10 nave
been chilled by her speculative tendencies ano VI
the delightful human, womanly weaknesses. whlch
eaptivate the heart by pity and sympathy there Is
not trace. OF every virtue that can be desired Oh
wife and mother she was model. She drew around
her circle of devoted friends, but the tie between
them was less the indulgence of sentiment, than the
love of discussion. Her abundant letters are often
admirable specimens of thought and expression, but
oven those to her husband, both before and after
marriage and to the friends to whom she was most
deeply attached are learned and critical essays
never the dewy blossoms of affection which gladden.
the heart by their soft fragrance though they tnrow
no light on the dim problems Of intellectual specu-
lation, In reading her correspondence we
meet the spirit of Coleridge in o female
form. The depths and intricacies OF Dis
mind are revived in the person OF his daughter
She had imbibed his opinions with the ar she
breathed, and her high culture and contempiatlve
intellect were devoted to giving them form ana
iustraton. Growing up in the presence OF Soutney,
in whose house she was born and in which she lived
until her marriage, and in constant intimacy with
the Wordsworth family il is wonder that she be-
came paragon of lofty thought with no CLEAN OF
friyotv in her education of leyity III her CHAR
acter.
Sara Coleridge was born at Greta Hall, near Kes-
wick towards the end of the year 1902. When o Few
months old, her father writes Of her y My meek
little Sara is a remarkably interesting baby, with
the finest possible skim and large blue eyes; and she
smiles as if she were basking in sunshine as MID
as moonlight of her own quiet happiness" when
che was about two years old, she had narrow es-
cape from drowning in the river Greta, into which
che had fallen from bridge while at play with her
elder brother Derwent. This accident produced an
unhappy effect on her sensitive temperament. Fora
long time she did not recover from the shock, and
became delicate, nervous, and low-sprited child.
As she advanced into womanhood, she is described
a. possessing rare perfection of female beauty, SIN
eulary reserved in her manners, eagerly devouriDg
books and with absolute artlessness and simplicity
Of character. For the development of her mind she
was greatly indebted to the influence of Words
worth His poetry exercised spell over her imagi-
nation and bis wise and impressive discourse served
TO cultivate her taste and direct her understanding
Not less powerful in its moral effect was the daily
life of Mr.. Southey from whom she learned the
practical lesson of industry and trqthfulness, and
whom long afterward she pronounced the best
man che had ever known. Her early pursuits
were chiefly literary. She had a peculiar apti-
xuGa tha nd of
free scope to Its indulgence. Before she
was five and twenty she had made herself ac-
Suainted with the principal Greek and Latin classics
and was familiar with French, German, Italian
and Spanish. Natural history in all its branches.
especially those of botany and zoology, was
favorite study. The beauty of nature as exhibited
in bird or insect flower tree, charmed her imagi
nation and furnished constant theme for religious
thought She could turn at any time from the most
lbstruse points Of metaphysics to examine the
architecture Of spider describe the corolla Of
rose.
At the age Of twenty she first met her cousin,
Henry Nelson Colerdge, a barrister in London, be-
tween whom and herself an attachment soon sprung
np and after an ngagement of seven years, pro-
tracted by the uncertainty of health and the want
of means on both sides. they were married in 1929
Her married life was rich IN all the elements OF
eoniusal happiness. Mr. II. n COleridge was man
Of high moral worth of superior mind aud scholar
clip, and blending literature with his professional
pursuits. The compositions which occupied bls
leisure formed topic of common interest, lie
possessed frank and cheerful disposition, his con-
versationa} powers were brilliant and his gayety
and wit presented strong contrast TO the sensitive
and reserved temperament of his wife. But the
domestic joys which they had waited for so long
wore destined TO pass away after comparatively
In,h rpho dc haalt
e. decline, and in little more than year he died
Of spinal paralysis. Seven years more and her own
health gave way, and after lingering struggle with
consumption she died in the Spring of 1882 in the
torty-ninth year Of her age.
The correspondence of Sara Coleridce from which
arge extracts given in the present volume,
derives its chief interest from the personal descp
lions and literary criticisms with which it abounds
rather than from the speculative discussions which
form considerable part of it's contents She freely
gves her impressions of the celebrated people whose
society she enjoyed. Her analyses of character are
keute and searching, but always kindly in their ex
preston. She had rich store Of charity though
The range of her sympathies was not wide. Her
feelings were doubtless more intense than her utter
,uoes. She was always moderate in the use of
tIthets never demonstratiye In the display OF IN
,eIest. much less swayed by imprisoned impulses.
THUS Of Mrs. Joanna Baltic, we find her writing:
] saw Mrs. Joanna Baltic before dinner. She wore
eeca:e lavender satin bonnet; aud Mrs. j says she
rs fond OF dress and knows what every one has on.
Her taste certainly exquisite in dress though strange
10 sayJ opinion. in poetry. more than ever
Of expression and TINT the silver
HAIR and syery gray The pale skim and the look
which speaks AZ mind that has had much cOmmuniug
with high Imagination. though such intercourse Is only
percep:ible now by the absence OF everything which
that lofty spirit would not set his seal upon Sir John
.yereT woman of The iwo but th,s is the speech OF
fltptr man. whose acute mind can pierce some OF
tTl1 nf fact
ze with all the beings OF the world Of lacna
ton And then in Mrs. Joanna Bailie, age mas slack
tncd the active part Of genius vet u In sort