Biographia Epistolaris, vol 1 | Page 8

and in
1772 appeared a "Critical Latin Grammar", which his son called "his
best work," and which is not wholly unknown even now to the
inquisitive by the proposed substitution of the terms "prior, possessive,
attributive, posterior, interjective, and quale-quare-quidditive," for the
vulgar names of the cases. This little Grammar, however, deserves a
philologer's perusal, and is indeed in many respects a very valuable
work in its kind. He also published a Latin Exercise book, and a

Sermon. His school was celebrated, and most of the country gentlemen
of that generation, belonging to the south and east parts of Devon, had
been his pupils. Judge Buller was one. The amiable character and
personal eccentricities of this excellent man are not yet forgotten
amongst some of the elders of the parish and neighbourhood, and the
latter, as is usual in such cases, have been greatly exaggerated. He died
suddenly in the month of October 1781, after riding to Ottery from
Plymouth, to which latter place he had gone for the purpose of
embarking his son Francis, as a midshipman, for India. Many years
afterwards, in 1797, S. T. Coleridge commenced a series of Letters to
his friend Thomas Poole, of Nether Stowey, in the county of Somerset,
in which he proposed to give an account of his life up to that time. Five
only were written, and unfortunately they stop short of his residence at
Cambridge. This series will properly find a place here.
[Footnote 1: From a Sonnet To Coleridge by Sir Egerton
Brydges--written 16th Feb. 1837. S. C.]
[Footnote 2: He was matriculated at Sidney a sizar on the 18th of
March 1748, but does not appear to have taken any degree at the
University. S. C.]
LETTER 1. TO MR. POOLE
My Dear Poole,
I could inform the dullest author how he might write an interesting
book. Let him relate the events of his own life with honesty, not
disguising the feelings that accompanied them. I never yet read even a
Methodist's "Experience" in the Gospel Magazine without receiving
instruction and amusement; and I should almost despair of that man
who could peruse the Life of John Woolman without an amelioration of
heart. As to my Life, it has all the charms of variety,--high life and low
life, vices and virtues, great folly and some wisdom. However, what I
am depends on what I have been; and you, my best friend, have a right
to the narration. To me the task will be a useful one. It will renew and
deepen my reflections on the past; and it will perhaps make you behold
with no unforgiving or impatient eye those weaknesses and defects in

my character, which so many untoward circumstances have concurred
in planting there.
My family on my Mother's side can be traced up, I know not how far.
The Bowdons inherited a good farm and house thereon in the Exmoor
country, in the reign of Elizabeth, as I have been told; and to my
knowledge they have inherited nothing better since that time. My
Grandfather was in the reign of George I a considerable woollen trader
in Southmolton; so that I suppose, when the time comes, I shall be
allowed to pass as a "Sans-culotte" without much opposition. My
Father received a better education than the rest of his family in
consequence of his own exertions, not of his superiour advantages.
When he was not quite sixteen years of age, my grandfather, by a series
of misfortunes, was reduced to great distress. My Father received the
half of his last crown and his blessing, and walked off to seek his
fortune. After he had proceeded a few miles, he sate him down on the
side of the road, so overwhelmed with painful thoughts that he wept
audibly. A gentleman passed by who knew him, and, inquiring into his
sorrow, took him home and gave him the means of maintaining himself
by placing him in a school. At this time he commenced being a severe
and ardent student. He married his first wife, by whom he had three
daughters, all now alive. While his first wife lived, having scraped up
money enough, he at the age of twenty walked to Cambridge, entered
himself at Sidney College, distinguished himself in Hebrew and
Mathematics, and might have had a fellowship if he had not been
married. He returned and settled as a schoolmaster in Southmolton
where his wife died. In 1760 he was appointed Chaplain-Priest and
Master of the School at Ottery St. Mary, and removed to that place; and
in August, 1760, Mr. Buller, the father of the present Judge, procured
for him the living from Lord Chancellor Bathurst. By my Mother, his
second wife, he had ten children, of whom I am the youngest, born
October 20th,[1] 1772.