4180. Robert Southey to Mary Wordsworth, [c. April 1824]

 

MS: Wordsworth Trust, WL MS A Southey, Robert 34. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: Dating from content. The letter must have been written after 22 March 1824, when Landor told Southey of the misdirection of Alois’s book, in a letter and accompanying ‘catalogue’ (see John Forster, Walter Savage Landor. A Biography, 2 vols (London, 1869), II, pp. 117–118), but before 3 May 1824, when Southey noted in his letter to Edith May Southey of that date (Letter 4182) that he had already started taking the Morning Herald to replace the Courier – a circumstance that had not occurred when this letter was written. We have therefore placed it at the end of April.

Dear Mrs Wordsworth

The volume which accompanies this note, came in my box of books from Landor; & by the catalogue which he sent me, it appears that it was intended for Wordsworth (who has the other volume) – & that in W’s box (by a like mistake) a book had been packed, which was intended for me. – P Alois. Poemata

(1)

Pietro Alois (d. 1667), Epigrammatum Centuriae Sex (1646), no. 36 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

– he writes the title. – If you light upon it have the goodness to send it when an opportunity offers.

Mrs C. will tell you the ill news that we have lost the Courier.

(2)

The Courier (1792–1842) was a pro-government daily London evening newspaper. Daniel Stuart bought it in 1796 but had taken little active part in it since 1811. However, he had ensured that Southey received a free copy since his move to Keswick, in recognition of the verses that Southey had provided for Stuart’s newspaper, the Morning Post, in 1798–1799. In 1824 Stuart sold his remaining interest in the Courier and the arrangement ceased.

For the present I persuade myself that I can be well contented with the Westmorland Gazette,

(3)

The Westmorland Gazette is a weekly newspaper, based in Kendal, founded in 1818. At this time, it was pro-government.

having more to do with any times than with the present.

Tillbrook from whom I heard two days ago desires me to request for him “a letter from Rydale about all things there & thereabout.

God bless you
Yrs affectionately
R Southey

Notes

1. Pietro Alois (d. 1667), Epigrammatum Centuriae Sex (1646), no. 36 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
2. The Courier (1792–1842) was a pro-government daily London evening newspaper. Daniel Stuart bought it in 1796 but had taken little active part in it since 1811. However, he had ensured that Southey received a free copy since his move to Keswick, in recognition of the verses that Southey had provided for Stuart’s newspaper, the Morning Post, in 1798–1799. In 1824 Stuart sold his remaining interest in the Courier and the arrangement ceased.[back]
3. The Westmorland Gazette is a weekly newspaper, based in Kendal, founded in 1818. At this time, it was pro-government.[back]
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