2328. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 15 November 1813 ⁠* 

Keswick. Monday. Nov. 15. 1813

My dear Grosvenor

Here I am thank God, by my own fire side, & at my own desk once more. I left as I expected my cold in the coach, in confirmation of an old theory of Beddoes that such complaints are to be cured by abstraction of heat. [1]  The first night the weather was severe, the coach had plenty of crannies giving free ingress to the freezing atmosphere, & a stupid old woman bound for Doncaster was my only companion. In spire of my body clothes I was colder than I liked, at breakfast however I got a good warming, & continued to keep it up the rest of the journey, the coach filling as it advanced on its journey. I found all at home as well as could be wished, – & even Isabel had not forgotten me.

Among the things which were left undone on Friday after we parted, in consequence of the rain, were two easy commissions which you can execute on my behalf. The first is to purchase two little-childrens volumes by the title of Original Poems for Infant Minds, [2]  which you may remember I did not buy in S^t Martins Lane because the volumes were not uniformly bound, – & go <leave> them in my name at Rickmans for ‘Little Anne’. [3]  – The other is to send to the same house a box of the cedar bricks for her sister Frances, [4]  & tell Mrs Rickman that Frances must learn with those bricks to build a house for me, & a stable for x Pocko by the time I <shall> come to see her next.

And when you pay the Docstor the 15 £ & my court fees, forget not to pay him also for my bag & barbering expences.

God bless you my dear Grosvenor. Remember me most kindly to your father & mother & to Henry.

RS.

The last thing news which reached me before I left town was a note which Harry brought me to Goochs. – Ecce [5]  the contents

“Sir Wm Parsons presents compliments to M^r Southey, begs he will have the goodness to let him have the Ode or part of it by the end of next week if possible, as he wishes to begin upon it.”

The Poet happens to have the whip hand of the Musdoc upon this occasion, – inasmuch as he cannot make the music till I have made the ode. – There is a delicious P. L. after Esq^re in the direction.