Coleridge’s comments on men and women of his time are to be found in Essays on His Own Times, the Table Talk and the letters. He hated and would not endure gossip for gossip’s sake; but a sociable inclination, newspaper work, an interest in public causes, and in the different pursuits in which men engage, brought him into touch with many interesting and some prominent persons. Coleridge at Highgate, by Mrs Lucy [Gillman] Watson, and, more recently, Coleridge the Talker by Armour and Howes, a collection of contemporary reports on his conversation, give a lively impression of a wide circle of acquaintance. Towards those he did not know personally his attitude was inclined to be positive even when he did not agree with them. His attitude towards women, in general and particular, was interested and considered, and the many references to children are observant, dignified and respectful.
On the whole his judgements of persons are less marred by partisan prejudice, whether religious or political or national, than those of most people; he did suffer, in relation to his closer associates, from the persecution feelings to which drug addicts are prone, though the strongest of these relations survived the difficulties. Indeed his life was rich in friendships, and any attempt to measure his intellectual influence must take almost as much account of his friends and admirers as of his written works.