4021. Robert Southey to Humphrey Senhouse, 17 May 1823

 

Address: To/ Humphrey Senhouse Esqre/ Netherhall./ Maryport
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Seal: red wax
Watermark: F/ 1821
MS: Department of Rare Books, Special Collections and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester, Robert Southey Papers A.S727. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

Keswick. 17 May. 1823
My dear Senhouse

In the hope & expectation of seeing you soon, (& the sooner the better) I will ask you to pay Morrison for me the sum of six pounds, seventeen shillings, – being the balance of my half years rent, – after deducting 13 shillings for roof repair, – & 30£ expended at this time by an agreement with the Landlord,

(1)

Samuel Tolson, Jnr (1756–1842), a commission agent in Liverpool and the owner since 1815 of Greta Hall.

of which he (Morrison) has been apprized. – The balance is less than I like to draw for, – & an awkward sum to send, – where there is no direct carrier to whom it may be entrusted.

The packet which you brought for me, containing some interesting communications concerning the campaigns of 1809 & 1810 in Portugal, – from Sir Nicolas Trant,

(2)

Brigadier-General Nicholas Trant (1769–1839; DNB), an Irish army officer who was assigned to command Portuguese forces. He served with distinction in many actions in the Peninsular War 1808–1813.

who performed the good service of occupying Coimbra after the battle of Busaco,

(3)

After the Battle of Bussaco (27 September 1810), French forces continued to advance on the defensive Lines of Torres Vedras, leaving their sick and wounded at Coimbra. Trant re-occupied the city on 6 October and acted as its governor throughout the winter, while the French retreated to wait out the bad weather. He then played a major role in forcing the French Army to abandon its plans to occupy central Portugal and instead leave for Spain in March 1811.

& thereby securing the most fertile provinces from the French.

The change of weather commenced just on your return. We had the finest month of April that I ever remember in this country, – they had rain on seventeen days out of the thirty, at Kendal, – & certainly we had it not on seven at Keswick. But this week has been almost one continued storm, – the waters are out & many acres have just been sown in time to lose the seed.

You will come I hope as soon as the weather becomes good – I shall enjoy a little laking & mountaineering with you. – We expect Mrs Coleridge & Sara in a few days. They have made a long progress, & I shall not begin mine till July, – the book

(4)

Southey’s The Book of the Church (1824).

which was to have been one volume, having grown into two. This sort of work is something like building a house, – the cost is very apt to double <exceed> the estimate twofold.

The aspects on the continent are not favourable for your plans.

(5)

France had invaded Spain on 7 April 1823.

– When armies are in motion, or even on foot, there is no knowing how far the inconvenience which they occasion extends. I had once after a long & fatiguing days journey in the mountains, to ride about the streets of a popular city (Tavira) from house to house, begging a nights lodging por amor de Dios e Maria Santissima,

(6)

‘for the love of God and Most Holy Mary’.

– because the place was full of soldiers.

(7)

This incident occurred on 15 April 1801, while Southey was travelling in Portugal, at a time of tension on the border between Spain and Portugal (Robert Southey: Journals of a Residence in Portugal 1800–1801 and a Visit to France 1838 (Oxford, 1960), ed. Adolfo Cabral, pp. 42–43).

And we were literally in danger of passing the night in the streets. Our kindest remembrances to all your friends -

God bless you – 
yrs affectionately
Robert Southey.

Notes

1. Samuel Tolson, Jnr (1756–1842), a commission agent in Liverpool and the owner since 1815 of Greta Hall.[back]
2. Brigadier-General Nicholas Trant (1769–1839; DNB), an Irish army officer who was assigned to command Portuguese forces. He served with distinction in many actions in the Peninsular War 1808–1813.[back]
3. After the Battle of Bussaco (27 September 1810), French forces continued to advance on the defensive Lines of Torres Vedras, leaving their sick and wounded at Coimbra. Trant re-occupied the city on 6 October and acted as its governor throughout the winter, while the French retreated to wait out the bad weather. He then played a major role in forcing the French Army to abandon its plans to occupy central Portugal and instead leave for Spain in March 1811.[back]
4. Southey’s The Book of the Church (1824).[back]
5. France had invaded Spain on 7 April 1823.[back]
6. ‘for the love of God and Most Holy Mary’.[back]
7. This incident occurred on 15 April 1801, while Southey was travelling in Portugal, at a time of tension on the border between Spain and Portugal (Robert Southey: Journals of a Residence in Portugal 1800–1801 and a Visit to France 1838 (Oxford, 1960), ed. Adolfo Cabral, pp. 42–43).[back]
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