Not much is known regarding Coleridge's whereabouts in the summer of 1813. In September Southey came to London and took him to see Madame De Staël (_Letters of Southey_, ii, 332), who as we know was drowned by his monologue. In the end of October Coleridge left for Bristol, and reached the then second city of England to deliver a fifth course of lectures on poetry which had been arranged for by his friends there (Cottle's _Rem._, 353). The course lasted from 28th October to 16th November (Bohn Library, _Shakespeare Lectures_, p. 456). Cottle says the first lecture was on _Hamlet_; but the report from the Bristol papers (Ashe, Bohn Library, 458) contradicts this, the lecture on _Hamlet_ being the third. A sixth course of lectures was arranged for, which Cottle says were well attended (_Rem._, 354). Another course of four lectures on Milton, between 5th and 14th April (Ashe, Bohn Library, 457), was indifferently attended. His eighth course of lectures, this time on Homer, scarcely paid expenses (_Cottle_, 355). Although Coleridge must have repeated himself frequently in these lectures, they were new to Bristol. C. R. Leslie, a painter of some note in his day, speaks favourably of them (Leslie's _Autobiography, etc._, vol. 1, chap. 3). The following letters belong to the visit to Bristol. LETTER 153. TO WADE 8 Dec. 1813. * * * Since my arrival at the Greyhound, Bath, I have been confined to my bed-room, almost to my bed. Pray for my recovery, and request Mr. Roberts's[74] prayers, for my infirm, wicked heart; that Christ may mediate to the Father, to lead me to Christ, and give me a _living_ instead of a _reasoning_ faith! and for my health, so far only as it may be the condition of my improvement, and final redemption. My dear affectionate friend, I am your obliged, and grateful, and affectionate, friend, S. T. COLERIDGE. LETTER 154. TO COTTLE. (5-14 April 1814.) My dear Cottle, An erysipelatous complaint, of an alarming nature, has rendered me barely able to attend and go through with my lectures, the receipts of which, have almost paid the expenses of the room, advertisements, etc.[75] Whether this be to my discredit, or that of the good citizens of Bristol, it is not for me to judge. I have been persuaded to make another trial, by advertising three lectures, on the rise, and progress, and conclusion of the French Revolution, with a critique on the proposed constitution, but unless fifty names are procured, not a lecture give I.