To Lord Stanhope

Coleridge had an 11-sonnet series in the Morning Chronicle titled Sonnets on Eminent Characters, which ran between 1 December 1794 and 29 January 1795.

In a 10 March 1795 letter to George Dyer, Coleridge stated that he planned five more poems, with only one addressed to Lord Stanhope being written.

However, after plans for a Pantisocratic community fell apart, Coleridge's opinions radically shifted to something similar to what was being promoted by Stanhope.

[2] Unlike his brother-in-law the Prime Minister William Pitt, Stanhope supported the French Revolution, which earned him praise.

It was written in ridicule of Jacobinical [bombast], put into the first Edition by a blunder of Cottle's, rejected indignantly from the second—& here maliciously reprinted in my Absence.

Since scorning Faction's low and partial aim Aloof thou wendest in thy stately pace, Thyself redeeming from that leprous stain, NOBILITY: and aye unterrify'd Pourest thine Abdiel warnings on the train That sit complotting with rebellious pride GAinst her, who from the Almighty's bosom leapt With whirlwind arm, fierce Minister of Love!

Wherefore, ere Virtue o'er thy tomb hath wept, Angels shall lead thee to the Throne above: And thou from forth it's clouds shalt hear the voice Champion of FREEDOM and her God!

For thou, untainted by CORRUPTION'S bowl, Or foul AMBITION, with undaunted soul Hast spoke the language of a Free-born mind Pleading the cause of Nature!

As such, the 'friend of Humankind' represents a sentimental figure, free from artificial social prejudices or desires like 'AMBITION' that would limit his instinctive affections.

This view continued in a March 1796 The Watchman essay by Coleridge which read:[8] "Earl Stanhope does not talk only: he feels, and acts in contempt of aristocratic prejudices.