4286. Robert Southey to William Peachy, 3 December 1824

 

Address: To/ Major General Peachy/ at the Revd. Dr Wooll’s/ Rugby/ Warwickshire
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
MS: British Library, Add MS 28603. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished.

Keswick 3. Dec. 1824
My dear Sir

I am glad to hear that you have disposed of Mr Charles Henry

(1)

Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. He had a serious accident on 2 August 1822 that was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming Henry): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.

so well, & so much to your satisfaction. If any disposition to over-task himself in study should appear, his tutor no doubt will be aware that it ought rather to be repressed than encouraged; for tho all danger is long since past, yet a few more years should elapse before the brain be exerted as if it had never sustained an injury.

The Bishop of Barbadoes has had a lucky escape in not having embarked before the late tremendous gale.

(2)

The Great Storm of 22–23 November 1824 – a hurricane-force wind and storm surge that particularly affected the south coast of England.

His baggage was not so fortunate, – the vessel in which that was stowed is among the wrecks, – tho it has not gone to pieces. The storm was felt here, but I suppose we were only in the skirts of it, for it was by no means the worst that we have experienced since the end of September, till which time we had <have> had the finest, & since, the worst season I remember in this country. At present we are in a white world, & nothing could be more glorious than the silvery splendour of the mountains this day.

I have not seen Roscoe’s observations on Bowless Life of Pope;

(3)

William Roscoe, The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq. with Notes and Illustrations by Himself and Others. To Which are Added, a New Life of the Author, an Estimate of his Poetical Character and Writings, and Occasional Remarks, 10 vols (London, 1824), I, pp. xvi–xix, severely criticised William Lisle Bowles, The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq., in Verse and Prose, Containing the Principal Notes of Drs Warburton and Warton (1806) for ‘imputations on the moral character of Pope … accompanied by an apparent disposition of Mr. Bowles to detract also from his estimation as a poet’.

but I should suppose that whatever difference of opinion he may entertain, he will have expressed it courteously. With no great respect for Roscoe as an author I have great respect for his personal character, as an accomplished kind hearted & generous man. As for the matter of controversy,

(4)

A huge controversy had been ignited by Bowles’s The Invariable Principles of Poetry (1819), which claimed that poetic images should be drawn from nature, not art; and that the finest poetry did not deal with the transient manners of society, but with general and enduring themes. Bowles had been very critical of Alexander Pope (1688–1744; DNB) in this context.

it lies in a nutshell; & if the parties were but agreed upon the meaning of the terms which they use, there would be an end of it. – It would be very gratifying to me to pass a few days under Bowles’s roof, but I can seldom move from home, inclination & prudence combining to keep me there. if Even if I considered travelling as a luxury, it is one in which I am not rich enough to indulge without especial cause; x inasmuch as that all the while I am absent from home, my only estate (which is time) is lying unproductive. – I have no intention of seeing the south next year; if I go from home at all (which <for> the hope of escaping my annual attack in the chest it is probable I shall do) – it will most likely be to visit the Bishop of Limerick.

(5)

Southey actually visited the Low Countries in 1825.

My daughters

(6)

Edith May and Bertha Southey.

will, I hope, return in February. We heard from Edith to day. She sends good accounts of Lady Malet & the Charters.

(7)

Lady Susanna Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), the widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB), maternal uncle of the Charter sisters, Louisa Charter and Elizabeth Charter (1782–1860), friend of the poet George Crabbe (1754–1832; DNB). The Charters were the sisters of Emma Peachy, first wife of William Peachy.

Some extracts from Capt Medwins book

(8)

Thomas Medwin (1788–1869; DNB), Journal of the Conversations of Lord Byron: Noted During a Residence with his Lordship at Pisa, in the Years 1821 and 1822 (1824).

have been transmitted to me, which, little inclined as I am to controversy, require notice on my part; & you will probably see in the course of some ten days an exposure in the Courier of as much of Lord Byrons impudent & malignant falsehood as it behoves me to notice.

(9)

Southey’s Letter to the Editor of the Courier, 8 December 1824, Letter 4289, published 13 December 1824.

The only news of this place is that Calvert has let his estates, & is about to remove to London; – & as the Fryers

(10)

Joseph Harrison Fryer (1777–1855) of Whitley House, Northumberland. Fryer was a surveyor, geologist and mining engineer who spent part of each year at Keswick. He had been renting Ormathwaite, a large house about a mile and a quarter from Keswick. He married Mary Laetitia Wilbraham (1799–1874), who had been Tom Southey’s lodger, in June 1822.

are already removed to the vicinity of Cockermouth, we lose in him – literally the last of our neighbours, – & the only <one with> whom a constant intercourse has been kept up. The young women I am afraid will feel the loss, which I shall not, – living always in the society best suited to my habits & inclinations.

The Ladies desire their best remembrances – mine accompany them to Mrs Peachy, when you may write to, or rejoin her. I beg my compliments also to Dr Wooll.

(11)

John Wooll (1767–1833; DNB), a clergyman and Headmaster of Rugby School 1807–1828. Peachy’s two stepsons, James Henry (1803–1884) and Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833) were educated at Rugby School.

Rugby I hope is proud of having sent forth Walter Landor, – who notwithstanding some errors of opinion, will undoubtedly be reme regarded hereafter as one of the brightest ornaments both of his age & of his country.

farewell my dear Sir, & believe me
yours very truly
Robert Southey.

Notes

1. Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. He had a serious accident on 2 August 1822 that was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming Henry): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.[back]
2. The Great Storm of 22–23 November 1824 – a hurricane-force wind and storm surge that particularly affected the south coast of England.[back]
3. William Roscoe, The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq. with Notes and Illustrations by Himself and Others. To Which are Added, a New Life of the Author, an Estimate of his Poetical Character and Writings, and Occasional Remarks, 10 vols (London, 1824), I, pp. xvi–xix, severely criticised William Lisle Bowles, The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq., in Verse and Prose, Containing the Principal Notes of Drs Warburton and Warton (1806) for ‘imputations on the moral character of Pope … accompanied by an apparent disposition of Mr. Bowles to detract also from his estimation as a poet’.[back]
4. A huge controversy had been ignited by Bowles’s The Invariable Principles of Poetry (1819), which claimed that poetic images should be drawn from nature, not art; and that the finest poetry did not deal with the transient manners of society, but with general and enduring themes. Bowles had been very critical of Alexander Pope (1688–1744; DNB) in this context.[back]
5. Southey actually visited the Low Countries in 1825.[back]
7. Lady Susanna Malet, née Wales (1779–1868), the widow of Sir Charles Malet, 1st Baronet (1752–1815; DNB), maternal uncle of the Charter sisters, Louisa Charter and Elizabeth Charter (1782–1860), friend of the poet George Crabbe (1754–1832; DNB). The Charters were the sisters of Emma Peachy, first wife of William Peachy.[back]
8. Thomas Medwin (1788–1869; DNB), Journal of the Conversations of Lord Byron: Noted During a Residence with his Lordship at Pisa, in the Years 1821 and 1822 (1824).[back]
9. Southey’s Letter to the Editor of the Courier, 8 December 1824, Letter 4289, published 13 December 1824.[back]
10. Joseph Harrison Fryer (1777–1855) of Whitley House, Northumberland. Fryer was a surveyor, geologist and mining engineer who spent part of each year at Keswick. He had been renting Ormathwaite, a large house about a mile and a quarter from Keswick. He married Mary Laetitia Wilbraham (1799–1874), who had been Tom Southey’s lodger, in June 1822.[back]
11. John Wooll (1767–1833; DNB), a clergyman and Headmaster of Rugby School 1807–1828. Peachy’s two stepsons, James Henry (1803–1884) and Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833) were educated at Rugby School.[back]
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