1311. Robert Southey to John Rickman, [c. 24 April 1807] ⁠* 

Dear Rickman

What you have heard of Coleridge is true, he is about to seperate from his wife, & as he chuses to do every thing in a way different from the rest of the world, is first going with her to visit his relations where however she has long since been introduced. The seperation is a good thing, – his habits are so murderous of all domestic comfort that I am only surprized xx xxxxx Mrs C. is not rejoiced at being rid of him. He besots himself with opium, or with spirits, till his eyes look like a Turks who is half reduced to idiotcy by the practise – he calls up the servants at all hours of the night to prepare food for him, – he does in short every all things just at the time when it at all times except the proper time, – does nothing which he ought to do, & every thing which he ought not. His present scheme is to live with Wordsworth – it is from his idolatry of that family that this has begun, – they have always humoured him in all his follies, – listened to his complaints of his wife, – & when he has complained of the itch, helped him to scratch, instead of covering him with brimstone ointment, & shutting him up by himself. Wordsworth & his sister who pride themselves upon having no selfishness, are of all human beings whom I have ever known the most intensely selfish. The one thing to which W. would sacrifice all others is his own reputation, concerning which his anxiety is perfectly childish – like a woman of her beauty: & so he can get Coleridge to talk his own writings over with him, & critise them & (without amending them) teach him how to do it, – to be in fact the very rain & air & sunshine of his intellect, he thinks C. is very well employed & this arrangement a very good one. I myself, as I have told Coleridge, think it highly fit that the seperation should take place, but by no means so that it should ever have been xxxxxx necessary.

There were but four books in that catalogue you sent me which I wanted – all the others of any value were already in my possession. Another Catalogue has made me suspect that I have inserted a lie among the Omniana in the Athenaeum (I know not whether you see this my Scrap & Omnium) – but there is a tale there of a certain Father Domenick Ottoman, [1]  – & I found it in a history of Isuf Bassa, [2]  but I see in this Catalogue a book entitled the Three Impostors [3]  & one Father Ottoman stands at the head of the list: – my friend no doubt – I have ordered the book, which is marked half a crown, & shall make it a point of conscience to get three shillings worth out of it.

Remember me to Mrs R. In the month of June I hope you will pay your respects to old Skiddaw.

It is fit that the inclosed should be franked – Tis to an old fellow collegian of mine, who now keeps a school & is contented with very little. I scruple to make him pay postage. [4] 

yrs

RS.