There has been no news lately from Coleridge; the last accounts state that he was well in the autumn, and in Sicily. On that poetic ground, we may hope and trust that his genius will call forth some new creations, and that he may bring back to us some garlands of never-dying verse. I have written to urge him strongly to give a course of lectures on Poetry at the Royal Institution, where his feeling would strongly impress, and his eloquence greatly delight. I am, my dear Poole, most affectionately
Yours,
H. Davy.
On the 20th of May, in this year, Mr. Hatchett reported to the Managers of the Institution—"that Mr. Davy proposed making a journey into Wales and Ireland this summer, having in view to collect specimens for enriching the mineralogical cabinets;" in consequence of which it was Resolved—"That the sum of one hundred pounds be entrusted to Mr. Davy to purchase minerals, and to defray the incidental charges; and that the boy of the Laboratory, William Reeve,[51] be ordered to attend him on his tour, and that the steward be directed to defray his expenses.
From the following letters, it would appear that, having accomplished his purpose of visiting Ireland, he made a rapid journey into Cornwall for the sake of seeing his mother and sisters.
TO DAVIES GIDDY, ESQ.
Okehampton, September 1805.
MY DEAR SIR,
I am accompanying my friend Mr. Bernard in a tour through the West of England, and I hope we shall reach Penzance in two or three days.
Mr. Bernard wishes much for the honour of your acquaintance, and I trust you will permit me to have the pleasure of making you known to him. Much kindness and long knowledge of him, may have made me partial to that gentleman, and may perhaps influence me when I say, that there is not a more patriotic, good, and public-spirited man in Great Britain.
I came from Ireland by the western road, about a fortnight ago. My expectations were fully satisfied with the appearances of the "Giant's Causeway." The arrangements of rocks of the Northern Cape of Ireland appear to me to present facts equally irreconcilable upon either the Plutonic or Neptunian theory; and I am convinced that general fanciful theories will lose ground in proportion as minute observations are multiplied.