ic eye by
engaging in such controversy, that, since I have been dipped
in ink, I have suffered no personal attacks (and I have been
honored with them of all descriptions) to provoke me to
reply. A man will certainly be vexed on such occasions, and
I have wished to have the knaves _where the muircock was the
bailie_--or, as _you_ would say, _upon the sod_--but I never
let the thing cling to my mind, and always adhered to my
resolution, that if my writings and tenor of life did not
confute such attacks, my words never should. Let me entreat
you to view Coleridge's violence as a thing to be contemned,
not retaliated--the opinion of a British public may surely
be set in honest opposition to that of one disappointed and
wayward man. You should also consider, _en bon Chretien_,
that Coleridge has had some room to be spited at the world,
and you are, I trust, to continue to be a favorite with the
public--so that you should totally neglect and despise
criticism, however virulent, which arises out of his bad
fortune and your good.

I have only to add that Messrs. Constable and Co. are
seriously alarmed for the effects of the preface upon the
public mind as unfavorable to the work. In this they must be
tolerable judges, for their experience as to popular feeling
is very great; and as they have met your wishes, in all the
course of the transaction, perhaps you will be disposed to
give some weight to their opinion upon a point like this.
Upon my own part I can only say that I have no habits of
friendship, and scarce those of acquaintance with
Coleridge--I have not even read his Autobiography--but I
consider him as a man of genius, struggling with bad habits
and difficult circumstances. It is, however, entirely upon
your account that I take the liberty of stating an opinion
on a subject of such delicacy. I should wish you to give
your excellent {p.227} talents fair play, and to ride this
race without carrying any superfluous weight; and I am so
well acquainted with my old friend the public, that I could
bet a thousand pounds to a shilling, that the preface (if
that controversial part of it is not cancelled) will greatly
prejudice your novel.

I will not ask your forgiveness for the freedom I have used,
for I am sure you will not su