3163. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 11 July 1818
3163. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 11 July 1818*
My dear G.
The manufactory of thunderbolts is going on quem felicissime. [1] And while I am running in full career against Brougham, poor Gog who is near enough the lists to get a terrible whisk from the horses tail. [2] It is not however merely for the purpose, of telling you this, that I now write. It is to say that my intended journey into Scotland [3] will not take place this year, & therefore come when you will. If late I will travel back to town with you. If soon tant mieux, [4] because we make sure of the time that we enjoy.
Vale.
RS.
11 July. 1818
Notes
* Address: To/ G. C. Bedford Esqre/ Exchequer/ Westminster
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 12 JY 12/ 1818
Endorsements: 11 July 1818; 11 July 1818/ pd
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. d. 47. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK
[2] The Courier had reported on 4 July 1818, that Brougham, campaigning for the parliamentary seat of Westmorland against the candidates favoured by Wordsworth’s patron the Earl of Lonsdale, had, when he spoke at the hustings at Appleby on 30 June, attacked Southey and Wordsworth. Southey was dissuaded from publishing the retort that he discusses here. Part of it finally appeared (without mentioning Brougham’s name) as a ‘Postscript’ to the second edition of Carmen Triumphale (London, 1821), pp. 45–53. BACK
