The Life of William Wordsworth
Description:... Excerpt from The Life of William Wordsworth, Vol. 2 MY dear poole, At present I have taken up the pen solely on Coleridge's account, and must confine my letter to him and his affairs. I know how much you will be concerned to hear that his health cannot be said to be much better, indeed any better at all. He is apparently quite well one day, and the next the fit comes on him again with as much violence as ever. These repeated shocks cannot but greatly weaken his constitution; and he is himself afraid that, as the disease (which is manifestly gout) keeps much about his stomach, he may be carried off by it, with little or no warning. We all here feel deeply persuaded that nothing can do him any effectual good, but a change of climate. And it is, on this subject that I have now written to you.
The place which he thinks of going to is the Azores; both for the climate and the baths - which are known to be exceedingly salutary in cases of gout and rheumatism and on account of the cheapness of living there, and the little expense in getting thither. But you know well how poor Coleridge is situated with respect to money affairs; indeed, it will be impossible for him to accomplish the journey without some assistance. Further, it seems to me absolutely necessary that this should be procured in a manner the least burthensome to his feelings possible. If the thought of it should hang upon his mind when he is away, it will undo, or rather prevent, all the salutary effects of the climate. I have thought it my duty to mention these circumstances to you, as being a person more interested than perhaps any other in what befalls our common friend.
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