3817. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 1 April 1822

 

Address: To/ G.C. Bedford Esqre/ 9. Stafford Row/ Buckingham Gate/ London
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ x AP 4/ 1822
Endorsement: 1 Apl. 1822/ Vegetable Marrow.
MS: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Eng. lett. c. 26. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

My dear G.

Thank you for the clean sheets.

(1)

Proofs of the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

I wish you had read them, because I should have liked to have known that you liked the work as far as it has proceeded.

I write now to request (& I trust you are concerned in the affair as much as myself) that you will send me sub franco Sui Recti Honoris,

(2)

‘under the frank of his Right Honour’, i.e. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, who had become ‘Right Honourable’ when he was made a Privy Councillor on 17 January 1822.

a pac some seeds of the Vegetable Marrow, or Quashey (vulgo

(3)

‘vulgarly’.

Squash) which I believe is its other name. This is the season for raising them. I use to get them from my poor friend Mr Browne of Ludlow, – but last year deprived me of him as well as of poor dear Nash

It is just four & thirty years this day since I went to Westminster, & thirty years this Easter since I left it. And here I am in the eight & fortieth year of my age with as light a heart & as thin a pair of breeches as when I began my way in the world, but not without a full sense of the years which have past over my head, – of what they have brought, & what they have taken away.

Remember Grosvenor that you & I are at a time of life when we cannot afford procrastination, – or rather proannulation in the enjoyment of each others society. Come to me while you can, while I am here, & heart-whole to welcome you. We know not what every year may bring forth, – nay not what any week – or day – or hour. Leave his Majestys X X Xs

(4)

Southey here writes three ‘X’s meaning the ‘Exchequer’, where Bedford worked.

& as soon as you can after the leaves open, & as soon as Henry can accompany you, & tell Miss Page to bespeak forthwith a pair of thicker shoes than she ever wears in London, & to make such other preparations for mountaineering & lakeing as she may think proper, for I shall not forgive you if you do not bring her.

God bless you
RS.

Keswick Monday Apr 1. 1822

Notes

1. Proofs of the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
2. ‘under the frank of his Right Honour’, i.e. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, who had become ‘Right Honourable’ when he was made a Privy Councillor on 17 January 1822.[back]
3. ‘vulgarly’.[back]
4. Southey here writes three ‘X’s meaning the ‘Exchequer’, where Bedford worked.[back]
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