2126. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 28 July 1812
2126. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 28 July 1812 *
Keswick. July 28. 1812
My dear Danvers
We have made enquiry concerning your trunk, – about which Mrs Coleridge desires me to say she punctually did all that you desired. It was seen into the cart from this place, so that the delay must be at Kendal, – the book-keeper will instantly write there in quest of it, & I hope you will receive it soon after this letter, or before it.
You judged rightly of our movements. We found room in the mail at eleven. – took chaise from Kendal to Ambleside, & walked the remaining stage, thro weather which just sufficed to wet us by the time we reached home at half past nine. It rained heavily the whole way from Lancaster to Ambleside. Tom left me this morning.
I found a letter from Lord Radstock [1] on my return, inclosing two others from different persons whom Dr Bell had applied to to enquire concerning the children. [2] Both state that the Military xxx Asylum [3] cannot admit them, – & both promise to make other enquiries. One says “there is a compassionate List from whence children & widows of officers deceased receive some small annuity. the mode of application is by Petition to the Secretary at War, but I am not certain how far the children of assistant surgeons can be put upon that List.” – This is the import of these letters – but if I could see Sharp, who is in Keswick, I would frank them to you.
I found also a letter upon my own concerns, with the pleasant intelligence that it was necessary to put a third edition of Kehama to press. [4] This is well, – for if the tide which is now at last beginning to flow, continues, my old labours after another year will send in annual returns, which I may lay by.
I shall be glad to hear that you have left Liverpool. Dr. J. [5] must be determined to provoke a quarrel with you, – & in that case it is very desirable that a third person should be present, as he will be xx cannot fail to show himself in the wrong.
Remember me to David, S Reid & his mother, [6] & believe me my dear Charles ever most affectionately your old friend
Robert Southey.
Notes
* Address: To/ Charles Danvers Esqr/ With S Reid Esqr/ Bold Street/ Liverpool
Postmark: KESWICK/ 298
Endorsement: 1812/ 28 July
MS: British Library, Add MS
30928. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished. BACK
[1] William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock (1753–1825; DNB), Admiral, philanthropist and Governor of Newfoundland, 1797–1800. BACK
[2] The four children of Danvers’s brother, John Danvers (d. 1812), a surgeon and apothecary in Woolwich, who had been declared bankrupt in 1808. BACK
[3] The Royal Military Asylum had been founded in 1801 to educate the children of soliders in the regular army who had died in the service of their country. It was also known as The Duke of York’s School, after its patron. BACK
