Poet's income

[allen-uk]

There was a mention in a recent New Statesman in the UK about Handel (yes, he of the Messiah etc), getting income from investments in West Indies slave plantations. Obvious I suppose when you think about it, although not all of his ilk were at it - consider Dr Johnson, almost violently opposed to slavery.

Anyway, my question is about Wordsworth & Coleridge. Years ago, I remember a rumour that they both had investments in the industrialisation of north and midland England, and derived much income from that source - income which helped them live a life of luxury in the lakes and elsewhere, penning their odes about how dreadful the industrialisation of .... precisely.

Any hard facts on their investments, or income? Or for that matter any of the other revered Romantic poets?

Thanks. (Not the sort of fact you can easily Google!)

Allen.