4050. Robert Southey to John May, 2 August 1823
Address: To/ John May Esqre-
Watermark: F/ 1821
Endorsement: No. 235/ 1823/ Robert Southey/ Keswick 2d August/ recd. 5th do./ ansd. 14th do.
MS: Robert Southey Collection, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. ALS; 4p.
Previously published: Charles Ramos (ed.), The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 203–205.
There is one omission in your letter, which I interpret in good part: you say nothing of your own health; but as you are well enough to go thro a regular course of Brighton stage-coaching, I conclude therefrom that it is thoroughly reestablished, & that neither the disease nor the remedies have left any weakness behind them.
My annual cold has, I hope, now run its course & taken its departure. I shall not recover from its effects so soon as if I had a guest with me to lead me over the mountains; however I take all opportunities that occur & use more solitary exercise than is agreable. Your goddaughter went on Monday last to Wordsworth’s, for change of air. She has had a somewhat severe bilious attack, the effects of which were hanging upon her. We have good accounts from her – she has horse-exercise there which she is very fond of; but I believe she will not be persuaded to remain there longer than next Monday. She xx is very much attached to Dora Wordsworth – fond of Mrs & Miss W – as intimate with Miss Hutchinson as difference of age will allow, – & familiar with W. himself whom she has known from her infancy, & who has a great regard for her. So that there is no place except her own home where she could possibly feel so much at home as there. But still she feels that she never is or can be so happy any where else as here. However she has made up her mind to pay her visits in the South when I go to London.
Edward Coleridge
made his appearance on Wednesday last. On Thursday I gave him a mornings boating, yesterday he was weather-bound & this morning he set off with your guide William Bird
for the Waswater tour, from which we expect him back on Monday. –
I must now tell you what Mrs Coleridge told him in my presence, & no doubt with the intention that I should hear it, tho she has never at any time spoken a word to me on the subject, nor even hinted at it. Upon mention of your son’s name,
she told him that he was then in North Wales, & that he talked of coming to this place: – an intention which I find he has communicated to Sara by letter a few days ago. – This as you will at once perceive places me in a difficult situation. I think if your opinion upon this point had undergone any change you would have informed me of it; – & unless I were assured that this attachment on his part were had now received your approbation; I should feel myself acting very culpably in entertaining him here; & affording him those opportunities which can only be had by being under the same roof with her. Yet on the other hand it will be very unpleasant, – not to say painful, – to receive him coldly & repulsively. That he has continued to write to her is now evident. What encouragement he has received I know not. – Tell me how I am to act, – if there should not be time for you to prevent the visit – I did not expect this perseverance on his part: – & had his attentions been discontinued I am quite certain that Sara would xxx <long ago> have felt herself disengaged. An expectant attachment of this nature may often I believe be highly useful to the man, as giving him the surest of all preventatives against the greatest danger which lies in the way of youth. But it is not so on the womans part.
Enough of this – & I am afraid too much for your comfort.
God bless you
Yrs most affectionately
RS.
