1181. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 16 May 1806

1181. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 16 May 1806 *
My dear Rickman
I thank you for sending the Proof – which surely I had requested you to do from time to time, unless my memory much deceives me. This I have returned for John [1] to drop in the two-penny post, because the leaves being cut it cannot be sent by the strait conveyance; for tho there is a great fitness in your saving me eightpence upon every sheet, there is no reason why you should be troubled for Our Fathers [2] with the return.
This is the first fine day since my arrival & I have been heartily enjoying it. In spite of a cold picked up upon the road I have an appetite equal to the Fat Mans or the Irish Giants. [3] Certainly this mountain air agrees with me better than that composition of smoke, dust, fog & filth which serves for an atmosphere in London.
I shall trouble you with an inclosure of copy tomorrow. My campaign will be a pretty brisk one – So much the better.
My remembrance to Mrs R.
yrs truly
RS.
Friday 16 May. 1806
Notes
[2] A jokey reference to Southey’s publisher Thomas Norton Longman, who had premises in Paternoster Row (‘Paternoster’ meaning ‘Our father’) in London. BACK