3076. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 11 February 1818⁠* 

11 Feb^y. 1818.

My dear G.

Nash will cause enquiry to be made at Brussels if the books are sent off [1]  – as I think they must have been long since. They are to come from a bookseller cui nomen Verbiest, [2]  who had full directions how to direct, & how to advise concerning them. & they would fill three cases, – if not four: – but most likely three would contain them. I am very anxious about them, – & it is expressing the least part of their value to me when I say that I paid a thousand franks for them.

K. Nicolas may well puzzle you. It puzzles me who know more about that matter than any man in England. To me however this brochure is a very great curiosity, & you will know more about it when my third volume comes out, which is in excellent progression. [3] 

Poor Shedaw has too much reason for often enquiring when M^r Bedford will send the Tincture of Pellitory. [4]  Well-tied up it may come in one of Murrays consignments. Had I thought of it in time it should have come from the Dogstars with Dobrizhoffer, [5]  by the coach: – but I suppose he will have dispatched the said Dobrizhoffer to Longmans for xx conveyance by the desiderated box.

Osiris [6]  is Sirius, – so learned Mythologists say.

Oh! dear Grosvenor, in compassion to me, buy me a razor to come with the Tooth-Tincture, – for by two vile accidents, the only <two> decent razors which I possessed have both been demolished, – & the loss is irreparable here.

Beautiful weather.

God bless you

RS.