“When his tragedy of ‘Remorse,’ which had a run of twenty-one nights, was first brought out, Washington Allston, Charles King, Leslie, Lamb, Morse, and Coleridge went together to witness the performance.  They occupied a box near the stage, and each of the party was as much interested in its success as Coleridge himself.

“The effect of the frequent applause upon Coleridge was very manifest, but when, at the end of the piece, he was called for by the audience, the intensity of his emotions was such as none but one gifted with the fine sensibilities of a poet could experience.  Fortunately the audience was satisfied with a mere presentation of himself.  His emotions would have precluded the idea of his speaking on such an occasion.

“Allston soon after this became so much out of health that he thought a change of air and a short residence in the country might relieve him.  He accordingly set out on his journey accompanied by Leslie and Morse.

“When he reached Salt Hill, near Oxford, he became so ill as to be unable to proceed, and requested Morse to return to town for his medical attendant, Dr. Tuthill, and Coleridge, to whom he was ardently attached.

“Morse accordingly returned, and, procuring a post-chaise, immediately set out for Salt Hill, a distance of twenty-two miles, accompanied by Coleridge and Dr. Tuthill.

“They arrived late in the evening and were busied with Allston until midnight, when he became easier, and Morse and Coleridge left him for the night.

“Upon repairing to the sitting-room of the hotel Morse opened Knickerbocker’s ‘History of New York,’ which he had thrown into the carriage before leaving town.  Coleridge asked him what work he had.

“‘Oh,’ replied he, ‘it is only an American book.’

“‘Let me see it,’ said Coleridge.

“He accordingly handed it to him, and Coleridge was soon buried in its pages.  Mr. Morse, overcome by the fatigues of the day, soon after retired to his chamber and fell asleep.

“On awakening next morning he repaired to the sitting-room, when what was his astonishment to find it still closed, with the lights burning, and Coleridge busy with the book he had lent him the previous night.

“‘Why, Coleridge,’ said he, approaching him, ’have you been reading the whole night?’

“‘Why,’ remarked Coleridge abstractedly, ‘it is not late.’

“Morse replied by throwing open the blinds and permitting the broad daylight, for it was now ten o’clock, to stream in upon them.

“‘Indeed,’ said Coleridge, ’I had no conception of this; but the work has pleased me exceedingly.  It is admirably written; pray, who is its author?’

“He was informed that it was the production of Washington Irving.  It is needless to say that, during the long residence of Irving in London, they became warm friends.

“At this period Mr. Abernethy was in the full tide of his popularity as a surgeon, and Allston, who had for some little time had a grumbling pain in his thigh, proposed to Morse to accompany him to the house of the distinguished surgeon to consult him on the cause of the ailment.