3837. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 13 May 1822

 

Address: To/ Dr Southey/ 15. Queen Anne Street/ Cavendish Square/ London
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 16 MY 16/ 1822
Seal: red wax; arm holding aloft cross of Lorraine
MS: Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, 1996.5.123. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

My dear Harry

Miss Wilbraham

(1)

Mary Laetitia Wilbraham (1799–1874), Tom Southey’s lodger.

is going to be married; – consent has been asked & given, & I know not which is happiest; she in the prospect of matrimony, or Tom & his Wife in getting rid of a boarder, whom I verily believe they wished to get rid of in any underhand way. Perhaps you may know something of the intended husband,

(2)

Joseph Harrison Fryer (1777–1855) of Whitley House, Northumberland. A surveyor, geologist and mining engineer, Fryer spent part of each year at Keswick. At this time he was renting Ormathwaite, a large house about a mile and a quarter from Keswick.

in many respect a much better one than she had reason to expect. He is a Land Surveyor by profession, a Newcastle-man by birth, Frier by name, & now inhabits Ormathwaite: – a very handsome man, of gentlemanly manners & appearance, & scientific acquirements, forty years of age. He has lived in this neighbourhood several years. – What can be his inducement you will ask. I suspect her money, & her connections. The rest, as a man of liberal opinions, he takes easily. All things considered however, her father

(3)

Randle Wilbraham (1773–1861), landowner, of Rode Hall, Cheshire.

may look upon it as a very eligible match, this son in law being a person who is producible any where. I hope her poor wits will hold together till the time appointed which is not till after – Carlisle Assizes.

(4)

Assizes were courts that periodically heard more serious cases (including capital offences) in each county. The Carlisle Assizes began on 13 August 1822.

Marriage & hanging you know, go together in an old proverb.

(5)

‘Marriage and hanging go by destiny;/ ’Tis the old proverb; now they come together’, John Fletcher (1579–1625; DNB), A Wife for a Month (1624), Act II, scene 1, lines 2–3.

I am sorry to hear from my Uncle that you have not been well. A run among the mountains will do wonders for you. I was in the river on the last day of April. We have had winter again since; & now summer is returned. We were on the Lake this morning for the first time.

Westall has sent me proofs of two Portugueze scenes, – part of the series with which he means to accompany my history.

(6)

A Series of Views of Spain and Portugal, to Illustrate Mr. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War; Drawn on Stone by W. Westall, A.R.A., from Sketches by General Hawker, Mr. Locker, Mr. Heaphy, &c. Part I, containing Eight Views, illustrating Vol. I (1823). These pictures could be inserted into the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

They are some of the finest things I ever saw. I am fast approaching the end of the volume.

I write this merely to tell you about Miss Wilbraham. Her father has not thought it necessary to make any enquiries concerning Mr Frier, but takes her report of him. Perhaps Gooch may like to let him know what I have said on the fair side

Love to Louisa & Mrs Gonne

God bless you
RS.

Keswick 13 May. 1822.

Notes

1. Mary Laetitia Wilbraham (1799–1874), Tom Southey’s lodger.[back]
2. Joseph Harrison Fryer (1777–1855) of Whitley House, Northumberland. A surveyor, geologist and mining engineer, Fryer spent part of each year at Keswick. At this time he was renting Ormathwaite, a large house about a mile and a quarter from Keswick.[back]
3. Randle Wilbraham (1773–1861), landowner, of Rode Hall, Cheshire.[back]
4. Assizes were courts that periodically heard more serious cases (including capital offences) in each county. The Carlisle Assizes began on 13 August 1822.[back]
5. ‘Marriage and hanging go by destiny;/ ’Tis the old proverb; now they come together’, John Fletcher (1579–1625; DNB), A Wife for a Month (1624), Act II, scene 1, lines 2–3.[back]
6. A Series of Views of Spain and Portugal, to Illustrate Mr. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War; Drawn on Stone by W. Westall, A.R.A., from Sketches by General Hawker, Mr. Locker, Mr. Heaphy, &c. Part I, containing Eight Views, illustrating Vol. I (1823). These pictures could be inserted into the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
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