2185. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 November 1812

2185. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 November 1812 ⁠* 

My dear Grosvenor

Here is the receipt, – & I heartily wish it may prove effectual.

The shoes are arrived & seem excellent. But I should have no fear of infringing the patent if I were one of the xx St Crispins [1]  fraternity, – for it precisely what my grandfather wore by the name of channel pumps fifty years ago, & what I (after his example) used to wear as long as I could find a shoemaker who knew how to make them. The only difference is that they are fastened with wood-nails & those with wooden pegs, which I conceive to be much the most lasting of the two.

Croker will perhaps apply to the Master of Rolls for Roderick [2]  – if so you will let him have the MS. I owe him this civility, – which is besides as it respects the poem abundantly politic.

RS.

Nov 29. 1812

Notes

* Address: G. C. B.
Endorsement: Novr 29. 1812
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 24. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] The patron saint of cobblers. His feast day is 25 October. BACK

[2] A MS draft of Roderick, the Last of the Goths, which Southey had sent to the Bedfords in installments. BACK

Addressee

Bedford, Grosvenor Charles (1773–1839)

People mentioned

Croker, John Wilson (1780–1857) (mentioned 1 time)
Bedford, Henry (‘Harry’) (dates unknown) (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Four
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