Literary Remains | Page 2

on
such passages, or with his reflections on other subjects, in a manner
very embarrassing to the eye of a third person undertaking to select the
original matter, after the lapse of several years. The Editor need not say
that he has not knowingly admitted any thing that was not genuine
without an express declaration, as in Vol. I. p. 1; and in another
instance, Vol. II. p. 379, he has intimated his own suspicion: but,
besides these, it is possible that some cases of mistake in this respect
may have occurred. There may be one or two passages--they cannot
well be more--printed in these volumes, which belong to other writers;
and if such there be, the Editor can only plead in excuse, that the work
has been prepared by him amidst many distractions, and hope that, in
this instance at least, no ungenerous use will be made of such a
circumstance to the disadvantage of the author, and that persons of
greater reading or more retentive memories than the Editor, who may
discover any such passages, will do him the favour to communicate the
fact.
The Editor's motive in publishing the few poems and fragments
included in these volumes, was to make a supplement to the collected
edition of Coleridge's poetical works. In these fragments the reader will
see the germs of several passages in the already published poems of the
author, but which the Editor has not thought it necessary to notice more
particularly. 'The Fall of Robespierre', a joint composition, has been so
long in print in the French edition of Coleridge's poems, that,
independently of such merit as it may possess, it seemed natural to
adopt it upon the present occasion, and to declare the true state of the
authorship.
To those who have been kind enough to communicate books and
manuscripts for the purpose of the present publication, the Editor and,
through him, Mr. Coleridge's executor return their grateful thanks. In
most cases a specific acknowledgement has been made. But, above and
independently of all others, it is to Mr. and Mrs. Gillman, and to Mr.
Green himself, that the public are indebted for the preservation and use
of the principal part of the contents of these volumes. The claims of
those respected individuals on the gratitude of the friends and admirers
of Coleridge and his works are already well known, and in due season

those claims will receive additional confirmation.
With these remarks, sincerely conscious of his own inadequate
execution of the task assigned to him, yet confident withal of the
general worth of the contents of the following pages--the Editor
commits the reliques of a great man to the indulgent consideration of
the Public.
Lincoln's Inn, August 11, 1836.

L'ENVOY.
He was one who with long and large arm still collected precious
armfulls in whatever direction he pressed forward, yet still took up so
much more than he could keep together, that those who followed him
gleaned more from his continual droppings than he himself brought
home;--nay, made stately corn-ricks therewith, while the reaper himself
was still seen only with a strutting armful of newly-cut sheaves. But I
should misinform you grossly if I left you to infer that his collections
were a heap of incoherent 'miscellanea'. No! the very contrary. Their
variety, conjoined with the too great coherency, the too great both
desire and power of referring them in systematic, nay, genetic
subordination, was that which rendered his schemes gigantic and
impracticable, as an author, and his conversation less instructive as a
man.
'Auditorem inopem ipsa copia fecit'.--Too much was given, all so
weighty and brilliant as to preclude a chance of its being all
received,--so that it not seldom passed over the hearer's mind like a roar
of many waters.

CONTENTS
THE FALL OF ROBESPIERRE POEMS. "Julia was blest with beauty,
wit, and grace" "------------I yet remain" To the Rev. W. J. Hort To
Charles Lamb To the Nightingale To Sara To Joseph Cottle Casimir
Darwiniana "The early year's fast-flying vapours stray" Count
Rumford's Essays Epigrams. On a late Marriage between an Old Maid
and a French Petit Maître On an Amorous Doctor "There comes from
old Avaro's grave" "Last Monday all the papers said" To a Primrose,
(the first seen in the season) On the Christening of a Friend's Child

Epigram, "Hoarse Maevius reads his hobbling verse" Inscription by the
Rev. W. L. Bowles, in Nether Stowey Church Translation Introduction
to the Tale of the Dark Ladie Epilogue to the Rash Conjuror Psyche
Complaint Reproof An Ode to the Rain Translation of a Passage in
Ottfried's Metrical Paraphrase of the Gospel Israel's Lament on the
Death of the Princess Charlotte of Wales Sentimental The Alternative
The Exchange What is Life? Inscription for a Time-piece
A COURSE OF LECTURES. Prospectus Lecture