3952. Robert Southey to William Peachy, 12 January 1823

 

Address: To/ Major-General Peachy/ 49. Albemarle Street/ London.
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 16 JN 16/ 1822
MS: British Library, Add MS 28603. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished.

Keswick 12 Jany. 1823
My Dear Sir

It gives us great pleasure to hear of your safe arrival in town, – after a journey, which was trying enough for your invalid

(1)

Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. His accident occurred on 2 August 1822 and was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming Henry): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.

to make us in some degree anxious for the result. There can now, I trust, be no reason to apprehend any farther inconvenience from the accident, tremendous as it was, than the trifling one of protecting the part. Regarding the case it in all its circumstances, it may truly be deemed a merciful preservation. – Mrs Peachy may now be quite at ease, – & ease of mind I hope will soon remove any ill effects which so long & severe a trial has produced.

For the first time, we were glad at your departure. After all that had passed, it was like a deliverance from a place of durance. And during the stormy season, there was a great gulph between us, which allowed of little communication between the Isle & Continent. But had it not been that change of place was so desirable for you at that time, I should certainly have regretted that you went away just as the bad weather ceased, – for finer than we have enjoyed from that time up to the present hour, was never remembered in these parts. Up to this hour I have said, because the first snow has just begun to fall. We had mild open weather till Christmas, – then a week of fine frost, – a thaw without rain & with a clear sky, for two or three days, then gentle frost slight frost & sunshine till this day. One morning fog is all we have seen of fogs, – & that gave me some magnificent sights in antejentacular

(2)

i.e. walks before breakfast.

walks to the crag, where I witnessed its disappearance as the sun rose.

The news of Keswick is that Mr Edmondsons brother

(3)

Unidentified.

who was settled in America is dead, & has left a considerable property among his relations here. Mr Edmondsons children,

(4)

Edmondson had at least two sons: John Edmondson (d. 1847), who took over his father’s practice in Keswick; and James Edmondson (1804–1873), also a surgeon, who moved to Tetbury, Gloucestershire, to practice.

it is said, have 500 £ each, besides what is left to the father. Every body rejoices at this. There is some talk of a new road to Penrith, which, if it is effected, will abolish the hill also on the Ambleside road. Lord Lowther is the mover in this business, – he brought McAdam

(5)

John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836; DNB), the pioneering road-builder and Surveyor-General of Metropolitan Roads from 1820. McAdam was employed to build a new road from Penrith through Keswick to Cockermouth (now the A66). His principal employer was Greenwich Hospital; he persuaded them to combine all the roads to their lead mines into a single turnpike trust, the Alston Trust.

here about six weeks ago, – & is willing, I have heard, to contribute liberally toward the expence.

The Kings acceptance of my first volume

(6)

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

has been notified to me by his command, & he has been pleased to signify with his own hand, his approval of the very flattering terms in which it was conveyed.

(7)

See Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 21 December 1822, Letter 3939. George IV had added ‘entirely approved – GR’ to William Knighton’s letter of thanks for Southey’s presentation copy.

My daughter Edith covets this, as you may suppose, for her collection of hand writings. – The Whigs I hear wince at the character which I have given of them.

(8)

History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 3–61, contained a great deal of criticism of the Whigs for opposing war with France, especially at pp. 55–58.

They will wince more when the second volume appears, where I shall record their uniform opposition to all measures for the carrying [MS missing] contest, & their uniform predictions of failure, disgrace & ruin, [MS missing] persisted in it. Out of their own mouths will I condemn them. Dr Philpotts has sent me his Letter to Jeffrey,

(9)

Henry Phillpotts, Remarks on an Article in the Edinburgh Review, No. 64, Entitled ‘Necessity of Parliamentary Enquiry’ (1820). This was a reply to Edinburgh Review, 32 (October 1819), 441–453, itself a review of Phillpotts’s A Letter to the Freeholders of the County of Durham, on the Proceedings of the County Meeting Holden on Thursday, 21st October Instant, and Particularly on the Speech of J. E. Lambton, Esq, M.P. (1819).

– one could not desire a more compleat exposure of gross ignorance, impudent assertions, & rascally misstatements, – the usual ingredients of an article in the Edinburgh Review. – By one of Alfreds laws, a public lyar – (that is a man who told lies upon public subj matters, – a political lyar) – was to have his tongue cut out.

(10)

Southey returned to this matter in The Doctor, 7 vols (1834–1847), VII, pp. 15–16. He quoted here ‘De Rumoribus Fictitiis’ from Alfred’s Law Code, issued in the 890s by Alfred (847/849–899; King of Wessex 871–899; DNB).

The Whigs are fond of Alfred’s Laws, – if we had them in full force, the operation of this statute would spoil Mr Jeffrey for an Advocate, & effectually silence Brougham.

The Ladies

(11)

Edith Southey and Mary Lovell.

desire me to present their kind regards – I beg mine also to Mrs Peachy, Mr Henry

(12)

James Henry (1803–1884), the elder of Peachy’s two stepsons.

& his brother – Somewhere or other I shall hope to fall in with you in the month of April

Farewell my Dear Sir
& believe me
yrs with sincere regard
Robert Southey

Notes

1. Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. His accident occurred on 2 August 1822 and was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming Henry): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.[back]
2. i.e. walks before breakfast.[back]
3. Unidentified.[back]
4. Edmondson had at least two sons: John Edmondson (d. 1847), who took over his father’s practice in Keswick; and James Edmondson (1804–1873), also a surgeon, who moved to Tetbury, Gloucestershire, to practice.[back]
5. John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836; DNB), the pioneering road-builder and Surveyor-General of Metropolitan Roads from 1820. McAdam was employed to build a new road from Penrith through Keswick to Cockermouth (now the A66). His principal employer was Greenwich Hospital; he persuaded them to combine all the roads to their lead mines into a single turnpike trust, the Alston Trust.[back]
6. The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
7. See Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 21 December 1822, Letter 3939. George IV had added ‘entirely approved – GR’ to William Knighton’s letter of thanks for Southey’s presentation copy.[back]
8. History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 3–61, contained a great deal of criticism of the Whigs for opposing war with France, especially at pp. 55–58.[back]
9. Henry Phillpotts, Remarks on an Article in the Edinburgh Review, No. 64, Entitled ‘Necessity of Parliamentary Enquiry’ (1820). This was a reply to Edinburgh Review, 32 (October 1819), 441–453, itself a review of Phillpotts’s A Letter to the Freeholders of the County of Durham, on the Proceedings of the County Meeting Holden on Thursday, 21st October Instant, and Particularly on the Speech of J. E. Lambton, Esq, M.P. (1819).[back]
10. Southey returned to this matter in The Doctor, 7 vols (1834–1847), VII, pp. 15–16. He quoted here ‘De Rumoribus Fictitiis’ from Alfred’s Law Code, issued in the 890s by Alfred (847/849–899; King of Wessex 871–899; DNB).[back]
12. James Henry (1803–1884), the elder of Peachy’s two stepsons.[back]
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