There are many men, especially at the outset of life, who, in their too eager desire for the end, overlook the difficulties in the way; there is another class, who see nothing else. The first class _may_ sometimes fail; the latter rarely succeed. LETTER 190. TO ALLSOP June 23, 1821. My dearest Friend, Be assured that nothing bearing a nearer resemblance to offence, whether felt or perceived, than a syllogism bears to the colour of the man in the moon's whiskers, ever crossed my brain: not even with that brisk diagonal traverse which Ghosts and apparitions always choose to surprise us in. I have _indeed_ observed _or_ fancied, that, for some time past, you have been anxious about something, have had something pressing upon your mind, which I wished _out of you_, though not particularly _to have_ it out of you. I must explain myself. Say that X. were my dearest Friend, to whom I would be as it were transparent, and have him so to me in all respects that concerned our permanent Being, and likewise in all circumstantial accidents in which we could be of service to each other. Yet there are many things that will press upon us which are our _individualities_, which one man does not feel any tendency in himself to speak of to a man, however dear or valued. X. does not think or wish to think of it when with Y., nor Y. in his turn when with X., and yet still the great law holds good--whatever vexes or depresses ought if possible to be _out_ of us. Now I say that I should rejoice if you had a female Friend--a Sister, an Aunt, or a Beloved to whom you could lay yourself open. I should further exult if your _confidante_ were _my_ Friend too, my Sister or my Wife. God bless you. S. T. COLERIDGE. T. Allsop, Esq. LETTER 191. TO ALLSOP My dear Friend, We are quite sure that you would not allow yourself to fancy any rightful ground, cause, or occasion for not coming here, but the wish, the duty, or the propriety of going elsewhere or staying at home. When the Needle of your Thoughts begins to be magnetic, you may be certain that my _Pole_ is at that moment attracting you by the spiritual magic of strong wishing for your arrival. N.B. My _Pole_ includes in this instance _both the Poles_ of Mr. and eke of Mrs. Gillman, _i.e._, the head and the heart. But seriously--I am a little anxious--so give my blest sisterly Friend a few lines by return of post--just to let us know that you are and have been well, and that nothing of a painful nature has deprived us of the expected pleasure; a pleasure which, believe me, stands a good many degrees above _moderate_ in the cordi or hedonometer of, Yours most _cordi_ally, S. T. COLERIDGE. T. Allsop, Esq.