Biographia Literaria

Letter 1

Coleridge recounts his journey from Yarmouth to Hamburg on September 16, 1798. Onboard, two Danish brothers invite Coleridge to drink with them. Coleridge reproduces their conversation about language phonetically. They are joined by a Swede, a “Prussian,” and another Englishman (182). The Dane is attended by a slave boy. Coleridge falls asleep on deck and is awoken by a rain shower on Monday morning. The Swede tells Coleridge he is financially dependent on the Dane, who is of questionable character. Coleridge spots a lone duck, and on Tuesday morning they sight land. Entering the mouth of the Elbe, they pass English traders. Coleridge describes the sights along its banks. On Wednesday they arrive in Hamburg.

Letter 2

Coleridge writes to a lady from Ratzeburg about the German language. In Hamburg, Coleridge is amused by the diversity of travelers from various nations. He discusses the differences between the genders and admires the nobility of a Frenchman. Coleridge also appreciates the letters of Pliny and Cicero. Coleridge describes his sense of elation at the foreignness around him, and at women’s fashions in Holland and Hamburg, contrasting them with English ones. Coleridge considers Hamburg a “degraded” Venice (189), amusing himself by looking through the windows at scenes comparable with the works of William Hogarth.