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British Library, Add MS 47888. ALS; 4p. . Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), II, pp. 214–215.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
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Your account of the childrenxxx rather what might be expected than wished. I dare say summer,
bathing & ripe fruit will soon set them to rights. The main thing with Cuthbert must be to attend to his bowels, – teething will
account for his increased irritability (which must also be looked for at his age) & for the redness in his
face, which I believe is no bad symptom at that time. I suppose you have introduced him to the strawberry bed,
which will prove a useful as well as agreable acquaintance.
If it had not been for one expression in your letter, I should have thought it was written in an
uncomfortable tone of feeling. With regard to Tom & his
family I need no vexation beyond what the certain prospect before them must needs give me whenever that distressing
subject is presented.xxxxxxxxxxx
& withheld assistance which it might be in my power to bestow? He however will be guilty of the most
unpardonable imprudence if he goes on relying upon what he can draw from me, from Harry & from my Uncle (to whom I find he is in the habit of applying.) All these
resources must be casual. We have none of us too much for ourselves & with our lives all our assistance must
fail. My family will be provided for in the event of my death, but I can make no provision for any other
persons.
Whenever that event may take place, my Will will be found in my desk (the upper part of it) in a
sealed paper. It leaves every thing to you for your life, & afterwards divides it equally among the children.
My brother Henry, John May & Neville
White are, with their xxxx consent, appointed executors & trustees. John May assures me that my insurance of 4000£ is at this time worth six.xx xxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxxx <enable me to lay by at least 500> a year.
Let us then my dear Edith, be thankful. You have a kind heart & have never wanted the will to
do good according to your means. The means hereafter will be more correspondent to the will. I will not fill this
paper with telling you what my plans are, farther than saying that I have my choice of three works for each of
which I xxx <may> have at the rate of a thousand guineas for a quarto volume;x xx much better to travel in my company, & you
know I am not in the habit of considering myself alone. You will easily manage about beds, when once you set about
it. John Cockbaine
I have a great deal to tell you when we meet. In my last I hinted at Hartleys misconduct.rs G. return to London tomorrow. the
latter & the children much the better for Tunbridge air. Louisa is grown stout & seems in excellent health. I breakfast tomorrow with Sir T Ackland, at Mitcham, & on Tuesday get to town as early as I
can having still much to buy & to do. I hope you will like your scarf. Mrs Hill sends Edith what I suppose to be a gown-piece of worked muslin. I am afraid
it would be useless to open the parcel in Q Anne Street to
look for her shoes & gloves, because I should not know them from yours, or any others. It is odd that I have
not received the watch for her.