4244. Robert Southey to Caroline Bowles, 10 September 1824

 

Address: [in another hand] Portsmouth Fourteenth Sept 1824/ Miss Bowles/ Buckland/ Lymington/ Hants/ Fr/ JRickman
Endorsement: No 64 To Miss Caroline Bowles
MS: British Library, Add MS 47889. ALS; 3p. 
Previously published: Edward Dowden (ed.), The Correspondence of Robert Southey with Caroline Bowles (Dublin and London, 1881), pp. 69–70.

Keswick. 10 Sept. 1824
Dear Caroline

Thank you for your verses,

(1)

Caroline Bowles had offered to contribute ‘The Mariner’s Hymn’, later published in Solitary Hours (London, 1826), pp. 22–24, to Alfred Pettet’s Original Sacred Music (London, n.d., but 1827); when it was rejected it was replaced by ‘I weep, but not rebellious tears’, later published in Robin Hood: a Fragment. By the Late Robert Southey, and Caroline Southey. With Other Fragments and Poems By R.S. and C.S. (London, 1847), pp. [227]–228.

– which I transcribed rather than part with the original, & sent to the poor musician. – I send you his Prospectus – & take it for granted that he will send you the Work.

I am fairly rid of my annual disease,

(2)

Southey’s annual attack of hay fever.

& in other respects materially better than when my last was written, so much so that I was on the summit of Helvellin last week. Send me as good an account of your own amendment, & we will look on to many meetings, – some of them I hope here – in this lovely land.

Soon I shall have more verses to send you.

(3)

Southey and Bowles were beginning work on ‘Robin Hood’. The resulting incomplete poem was published in Robin Hood: a Fragment. By the Late Robert Southey, and Caroline Southey. With Other Fragments and Poems By R.S. and C.S. (London, 1847), pp. [1]–36.

You have not proved yourself a defaulter yet. And I have more schemes for you. I have plans for three or four plays which you could execute, – for you will not pretend to deny or doubt that you can write dramatically.

Today we heard from Bertha, & of Edith. Bertha is still near Portsmouth, in high health & spirits. Of Edith I heard from Lightfoot under whose roof she is at this time. If she is not contented there, it will not be for want of kindness on the part of the family; – for if a dog was to scratch at Lightfoots door with my name on his collar, he would be taken into the parlour, & made as much of as your poor old Ranger, – whom I remember with xx in a manner that proves the truth of the old saying.

This is a hasty letter – but I shall soon write again when I transmit a few more stanzas, – & two half letters are better than one whole one

God bless you 
RS.

Notes

1. Caroline Bowles had offered to contribute ‘The Mariner’s Hymn’, later published in Solitary Hours (London, 1826), pp. 22–24, to Alfred Pettet’s Original Sacred Music (London, n.d., but 1827); when it was rejected it was replaced by ‘I weep, but not rebellious tears’, later published in Robin Hood: a Fragment. By the Late Robert Southey, and Caroline Southey. With Other Fragments and Poems By R.S. and C.S. (London, 1847), pp. [227]–228.[back]
2. Southey’s annual attack of hay fever.[back]
3. Southey and Bowles were beginning work on ‘Robin Hood’. The resulting incomplete poem was published in Robin Hood: a Fragment. By the Late Robert Southey, and Caroline Southey. With Other Fragments and Poems By R.S. and C.S. (London, 1847), pp. [1]–36.[back]
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