4106. Robert Southey to Edith Southey, 24 December[–26 December] 1823

 

MS: British Library, Add MS 47888. ALS; 4p. 
Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), II, pp. 255–260.

Streatham. 24 Dec. 1823
My dear Edith

To-day I thought would have brought me a letter from home, with an acknowledgement of the half bill: probably I shall find it tomorrow on my return to town. And as I have now after six days close work packed up my papers (having finished & sent off the review,

(1)

Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), Travels in New-England and New-York (1821–1822), no. 881 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. It was reviewed by Southey in Quarterly Review, 30 (October 1823), 1–40, published 17 April 1824.

& advanced so near the end of the B. Church

(2)

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

that three mornings in Q Anne Street will finish that also) – I may with a quiet conscience indulge in writing home.

I am afraid I expressed myself more peevishly than xxx I ought concerning Mrs C.s account with Tolson.

(3)

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

You would excuse me it if you knew how many needless & senseless demands are made upon my time in town, where every minute is precious.

I came here on Thursday last. Henry Taylor walked half the way with me, – the letter of introduction which I gave him at Keswick has proved so efficacious, (which of course it would not have been if his own talents had not accredited it) that he is now Editor of the London Magazine.

(4)

Henry Taylor contributed to the London Magazine at this time, but he did not become its editor.

– The boys are all at home, Errol xxx brought with him a cold & affection of the chest, in consequence of which Harry came over yesterday to prescribe for him. He appears better to day; but it has altered him a good deal, & kept him in so quiet or rather languid a state that I have scarcely heard his voice, nor seen what kind of boy he is. I believe however that I should like him rather less than Edward & rather more than his second brother, tho they are all fine, promising, well disposed lads. Poor Alfred is the wrecklin

(5)

A Cumbrian dialect word for the smallest of the litter; Alfred Hill was Herbert Hill’s second youngest son.

of the family, & sorry I am to say that he is as much like a mucken

(6)

Charles Cuthbert Southey’s word for a monkey.

as poor Wilber

(7)

Unidentified.

himself. Georgiana excels at football, & is the stoutest of the whole, but withal a very fine handsome girl.

My Uncle appears to be much the same as when I was last in town. Nothing has failed him but his limbs, & those rather from <the effect> of rheumatism than of age. He goes to London in the stage & returns the same morning, without difficulty or apparent fatigue. His hearing is as good as ever it was; his sight very little impaired, & were it not that the loss of his teeth affects his articulation, his conversation xxx would betray no symptoms of age, for he has the same quiet, chearful, & even playful manner than he had at Lisbon, three & twenty years ago. Mrs H. is much the graver of the two. She is fatter than when you saw her & looks older than you xxx, as indeed I suppose she is.

(8)

Catherine Hill was one year younger than Edith Southey.

They keep no company, whatever, which I think must rather be owing to her inclination than his. During the six days that I have been here, the only persons who have called have been Bedford & the Doctor: not one of the parishioners. My mornings & evenings have been past up stairs in solitude, steadily at work, xx I have had my afternoon <nap> also, & enjoy dining at four o clock, & a glass of arrack punch

(9)

A distilled alcoholic drink, made from the fermented sap of the coconut tree, mixed with fruit or fruit juice.

after supper

Tomorrow I mean to receive the sacrament here, & then put myself on the way to London & take my chance for a stage. We dine at Mrs Gonnes, where I shall see Edith. My Uncle has given me a beautiful little broche for her, – it is an agoe marina

(10)

The Portuguese term for aquamarine, a precious stone of a bluish-green colour.

very prettily set. Friday we dine at Bedfords. Saturday with Mr Monkhouse.

(11)

Thomas Monkhouse (1783–1825), a London merchant and cousin of Mary Wordsworth. He lived at 67 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London.

My engagements in Devonshire stand thus – Saturday being the day of my arrival there, with the Kennaways,

(12)

Sir John Kennaway, 1st Baronet (1758–1836), made a fortune in the East India Company and became a landowner in Devonshire. Southey knew him through his son, Charles Edward Kennaway, who had visited Southey in the Lake District in 1819–1820. The Kennaway home, Escot House, is close to Ottery St Mary.

– Sunday at Ottery, – Monday & Tuesday with Sir T Acland & Mr Marryat,

(13)

John Marriott (1780–1825; DNB), a clergyman, poet and friend of Walter Scott. He was Curate of St James, Exeter, St Lawrence, Exeter, and St John, Broadclyst. The patron of the latter church was Sir Thomas Acland, who was also a friend of Marriott.

– Wednesday to Exeter & Crediton, where I must take care not to be killed with kindness.

The inn at Cambridge at which I was quartered is so perfectly clean & commodious that Edith will find no inconvenience in being lodged there for two or three days nights, beyond which our stay would not under any circumstances have been prolonged.

Poor Dumbee

(14)

Samuel Lane (1780–1859; DNB). The portrait is now in Balliol College, Oxford.

has proved by far the best of all my painters. He took almost an affectionate leave of me, & expressed his regret at not having succeeded better, tho he has in reality satisfied all who have yet seen the picture

On my return from the West I shall remain no longer in these parts than to make our visit at Richmond. For you may well suppose that I long to be at home. Bertha’s letter amused & pleased me much, – & knowing what female curiosity is, I must not blame xx her for prying in a part of the desk where pens are not to be found. Another volume of the German stories

(15)

Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786–1859), Kinder-und Hausmärchen (1812), translated as German Popular Stories (1823) by Edgar Taylor (1793–1839; DNB). The book was an immense success (including with Cuthbert Southey) and was reprinted in 1824 and 1825, but a second volume did not appear until 1826.

is promised. I wish it may be published while I am in town, that I may send it down in a second frank to Cuthbert. Tell him I am glad to hear he is become so studious. Tell him too that of his three xxx Welsh Uncles here, the eldest is to be Master of Westminster, the second Lord Chancellor, & the third Archbishop of York. I could not consent to his having Canterbury, because Canterbury is engaged. – Oh bless that sweet boy, how I long to see him, & to tell him once more that I am very fond of him.

You may laugh at your daughter about Hunter the Savage,

(16)

Unidentified.

of whom she made half a conquest at Montreal.

(17)

The country home of J. C. Herries, near Sevenoaks in Kent.

I am almost sorry <to see> the depth & strength of her attachment to home. Now that she is in London, she says, she will stay out the time she had appointed & do all she intended to do, – but she will never go to London again. She dislikes it as heartily as I do. And yet she receives as much kindness as you could desire, & is fully sensible of it. – As for Bedford he pronounces her to be the most elegant creature he ever saw. – With regard to drawing I shall follow Westalls advice whatever that may be, when I can see him again, & as to singing she shall do whatever is thought advisable & acxxds <accords> with her own wishes.

Thursday morning.

A merry Xmas, & a happy new year to you all! To you first & foremost my true & lawful Governess & Lady Mare; next to the great Bertha whom I love not with a B alone, but thro the whole alphabet, stopping only at the letter X because it is not possible to love any thing that is cross: next to the very grave & sober Kate, Countess Pusseycat, the very gravest & soberest of her kind; then to my Isabel who live as long as she will is to be a Belle still; & tho last & least, yet neither least nor last in my love, to Charles Cuthbert Southey Archbishop in nubibus,

(18)

Literally ‘in the clouds’: a legal term referring to an event yet to happen (and which may not happen).

Rural Dean by courtesy, & in reality a good boy & my very worthy son. And a merry Xmas & happy new year to Sara also, & the Most Venerable her mother, & to Aunt Lovell, – & to Betty

(19)

Elizabeth Thompson (c. 1777–1862), the Southey family’s long-standing servant.

& Anne, & the Cook

(20)

Servants in the Southey household at Greta Hall, Keswick.

(tho I have absolutely forgotten who she is, both name & person) – & to Rumpelstilzchen, & Hurliburlibus,

(21)

Two feline members of the Southey household.

– all persons & all creatures belonging to my household, a merry Xmas & happy new year to them all.

God bless you my dearest Edith
Yr RS.

Friday afternoon.

I found your letter on my return yesterday. Your daughter seems very chearful & well, & better reconciled to London. Lady Malet

(22)

Lady Susanna Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB).

will not part with her yet. We are to meet Coleridge at Mr Monkhouses tomorrow.

I inclose the other half bill, – & take this to Bedfords that he may get it franked tomorrow. No time for more – only that I hope your head is better. – Errol is so unwell as to give cause for some uneasiness, – his chest is threatened

The Mays

(23)

John May and his son, John May (1802–1879).

are come to town for a fortnight. I saw the younger this morning. Once more – God bless you

Notes

1. Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), Travels in New-England and New-York (1821–1822), no. 881 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. It was reviewed by Southey in Quarterly Review, 30 (October 1823), 1–40, published 17 April 1824.[back]
2. Southey’s The Book of the Church (1824).[back]
3. Samuel Tolson, Jnr (1756–1842), a commission agent and tea dealer in Liverpool and the owner of Greta Hall since 1815.[back]
4. Henry Taylor contributed to the London Magazine at this time, but he did not become its editor.[back]
5. A Cumbrian dialect word for the smallest of the litter; Alfred Hill was Herbert Hill’s second youngest son.[back]
6. Charles Cuthbert Southey’s word for a monkey.[back]
7. Unidentified.[back]
8. Catherine Hill was one year younger than Edith Southey.[back]
9. A distilled alcoholic drink, made from the fermented sap of the coconut tree, mixed with fruit or fruit juice.[back]
10. The Portuguese term for aquamarine, a precious stone of a bluish-green colour.[back]
11. Thomas Monkhouse (1783–1825), a London merchant and cousin of Mary Wordsworth. He lived at 67 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London.[back]
12. Sir John Kennaway, 1st Baronet (1758–1836), made a fortune in the East India Company and became a landowner in Devonshire. Southey knew him through his son, Charles Edward Kennaway, who had visited Southey in the Lake District in 1819–1820. The Kennaway home, Escot House, is close to Ottery St Mary.[back]
13. John Marriott (1780–1825; DNB), a clergyman, poet and friend of Walter Scott. He was Curate of St James, Exeter, St Lawrence, Exeter, and St John, Broadclyst. The patron of the latter church was Sir Thomas Acland, who was also a friend of Marriott.[back]
14. Samuel Lane (1780–1859; DNB). The portrait is now in Balliol College, Oxford.[back]
15. Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786–1859), Kinder-und Hausmärchen (1812), translated as German Popular Stories (1823) by Edgar Taylor (1793–1839; DNB). The book was an immense success (including with Cuthbert Southey) and was reprinted in 1824 and 1825, but a second volume did not appear until 1826.[back]
16. Unidentified.[back]
17. The country home of J. C. Herries, near Sevenoaks in Kent.[back]
18. Literally ‘in the clouds’: a legal term referring to an event yet to happen (and which may not happen).[back]
19. Elizabeth Thompson (c. 1777–1862), the Southey family’s long-standing servant. [back]
20. Servants in the Southey household at Greta Hall, Keswick.[back]
21. Two feline members of the Southey household.[back]
22. Lady Susanna Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB).[back]
23. John May and his son, John May (1802–1879).[back]
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