[1] The most convincing evidence of Coleridge's powers is to be found in
his Table Talk. It appears from it that he was ready to discuss (almost)
any subject, and that he was capable of talking ably upon most, and
cleverly upon all.
CHAPTER IV.
_(Migrations.)--"John Woodvil."--Blackesmoor.--Wordsworth.--Rickman.--
Godwin.--Visit to the Lakes.--Morning Post.--Hazlitt.--Nelson.--Ode to
Tobacco.--Dramatic Specimens, &c.--Inner Temple Lane.--Reflector.--Hogarth
and Sir J. Reynolds.--Leigh Hunt.--Lamb, Hazlitt, and Hunt.--Russell
Street and Theatrical Friends._
It is not always easy to fix Charles Lamb's doings (writings or
migrations) to any precise date. The year may generally be ascertained;
but the day or month is often a matter of surmise only. Even the dates of
the letters are often derived from the postmarks, or are sometimes
conjectured from circumstances. [1] Occasionally the labors of a drama or
of lyric poems traverse several years, and are not to be referred to any
one definite period. Thus "John Woodvil" (his tragedy) was begun in 1799,
printed in 1800, and submitted to Mr. Kemble (then manager of Drury Lane
Theatre) in the Christmas of that year, but was not published until 1801.
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