New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-18

a CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE
GILMAN FAMILY.


Being a Chapter from History Of the G 81, "a
(London: Elliot Stock)
Alexander w. Gilman. a grandson OF the dis
tineuished surgeon who sheltered Coleridge for
many years. has written an elaborate work. en-
titled searches into the History Of the Gilman
Family. Including the Various Branches In Eng
land Ireland America and Belgium. The mar
rative begins with earliest times, tracing the de-
scent Of the Gilmans or Gilmans from Coel Code
boo. who Is said to have been King OF Britain
about 300 A. D.. down through Gilmn Troed-dhu
in the ninth century John Gylmyn, Kings Mar
shall in the reign of Henry III. and the Gylmyns
or Gilmans of Tudor times and so onward 10 the
present day. illustrated with coats-of-arms. an
Client Wills pedigrees and the like. The chapter
most likely to be of general interest-that Is the
one relating 10 the residence OF Coleridge Win
James Gilman. surgeon. at Highgate as ABOVE
indicated--has been printed separately, win por-
traits Of Gilman. Coleridge, Mrs. Gilman ana the
Rev James Gilman. who grew up to manhooo
while Colerdge was In his fathers house one oi
his "reminiscences of the poet and philosopher Is
very characteristic. Coleridge loved so well 10
talk that he would unload his heaviest metaphy-
sics on any one who would listen. on "a young
lady OF seventeen" as ore OF his visitors re-
marked thinking Of an example within his own
observation Young James Gilman went to him
one day for advice about a school exercise, ana
got forthwith lecture on the subject beginning
with the Creation. After that he rather avoided
his learned mentor
It IL a curious thing that every now and then
some literary person starts up with ming al the
Gillmans about their treatment OF Coleridse.
These filings do not seem to be malicious, out
merely the side-g ances of a criticism which pre-
tends to omniscience short answer 10 all Oh
them would be TO ask how many persons there
are In any community that would have taken
Co,eridee I'D as Gilman did. Some cavaliers
seem to think that Gilman should have been a
different sort of man from what he was. But this
censure is no more to the point than structures
on an author for writing kind of book differ
ent from the one he has written In THE Gill
mans of Highgate with Letters from Samuel
TAYLOR Coleridge" Mr.. Gilman has answered all
critics In full. TIL letters and "reminiscences
which he quotes show that Coleridge. the only
literary person who had any real interest IN the
matter was uniformly content at Highsate. lie
found in Gilman thinker who took an interest
in philosophy and had independent sclentihc
views. who even took enough pleasure In poetry
10 see that some # Coleridges was publshed
Coeridge's letters. published here, also attest
his reverence for the character OF Mrs. Gilman
The only difference between his record OF the
eighteen years which he spent In the mouse at
Highgate and that Of the Gillmans relates TO
money. He seems to have thought that he gave
an equivalent for the care he received But the
only equivalent acknowledged by the family was
the satisfaction derived from his companonship
and conversation. and from the acquaintance OF
the distinguished men Of letters who visited him.
1t is apparent-the long period Of years proves
10 miSunderStand-
ing on this point. II was without bitterness. II
Coleridse labored under some delusion he was in
dulged in 1t.
With the opium question the case is different
Coleridge on his own account, and the Gillmans
for him. insisted that the habit OF taking opium
or laudanum was completely broken. 1t has al
ways been asserted By others that there was
some mistake here. De Quincy. who lived to be
resentful toward his old friends OF the Lakes. de-
clared with his exaggeratnP humor that hogs
head of laudanum was taken to the house al
Highgate every three months. This sort OF accu-
eation defeated itself. But even from so late
work as the collection OF Coeridge's letters, ed
tied BY Ernest Hartley Coleridge. critics OF i'm
portance inferred by ndrection ut least that
Coleridge remained to the last laudanum-
drinker. These differences ELECTED what Is the
most important part Of the evidence now re-
corded in Mr. Gillmans book The new evidence
showed that Coleridge. so far as bodily ailment
was concerned, had far greater occasion for the
use Of narcotics than was known In the case or
De Quincy, that his Incidence was not merely a
habit but necessity, and that he really did quit
the use Of opium except as medicine. The main
feature Of the new evidence was the record OF an
autopsy which showed that Coleridge had suf-
fered for forty years from q disease Of the heart.
The organ was so nearly worn out that II could
not sustain its own weight, and 1t was so en-
larged that 1t filled all the left side OF the chest
The disease had caused dropsical effusion on
the right side of the chest and complete CON-
preston of the lungs. The surgeons who made
the autopsy, and. long afterward. other experts
all agreed that the defect Of circulation In a
chronic case Of this kind made the temptation OF
narcotics almost irresistible. Coleridge took
SNUFF In great quantities at Highgate, and the
allowance OF opium in unusual prescriptions
would have been justified by the investigation
after death. But there is nothing In this boob
TO show that even this concession was made to
his weakness. The assertion is positive that he
obtained no opium by surreptitious means. APP
parently the controversy on the subject Is closed
with a verdict that for the last eighteen years Of
his life Coleridge was free from the opium habit
COME ADCrrC DECEARCyIES