2805. Robert Southey to [Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales], 4 June 1816

2805. Robert Southey to [Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales], 4 June 1816⁠* 

Madam

The Office to which your Royal Father has been graciously pleased to appoint me, allows me the privilege of addressing your Royal Highness at this auspicious time. It has been my earnest endeavour to produce something on so happy an occasion which should evince a due sense of the honour conferred upon me in that office, [1]  and prove hereafter as well as now the sincerity perfect respect with which

I am

Madam

Your Royal Highnesses

Most dutiful

and most devoted Servant

Robert Southey

Poet Laureate

Keswick

4 June 1816.

Notes

* MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 25. TR; 1p.
Unpublished.
Note on MS: the letter exists in a copy in another hand, probably Grosvenor Charles Bedford’s. BACK

[1] As Poet Laureate, Southey had written an epithalamion, The Lay of the Laureate. Carmen Nuptiale (1816), which this letter served to present, to celebrate Charlotte’s marriage to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1790–1865; King of the Belgians 1831–1865) on 2 May 1816. BACK

Addressee

Charlotte Augusta of Wales, Princess (1796–1817)

People mentioned

George IV (1762–1830) (mentioned 1 time)

Places mentioned

Keswick (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Five
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