1260. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 17 January 1807 ⁠* 

Dear Dog of Dumplings

Your books & desk shall be shipt off by the next carrier. When next you write xxx give your letter to Rickman, inasmuch as your uglyography [1]  is not worth one half penny a line, & the walk to Palace Yard will not cost you eleven pence. I will take care that mine to you shall travel by the two penny post, [2]  – an act of prudence on my part which whenever exercised will be worth nine pence to your Doctorship.

You are to convey your reviewing to A Aikin 4. Broad Street Buildings, & to apply to him, for the three deficient volumes of Froissart [3]  – unless you can do without them, by review noticing the three last as though you had seen the whole. I send you Miss Hamiltons letters, [4]  & some small-craft which tell well in the trade – a joke & an extract being the component articles of a reviewal of such things – the one paying for the other.

Carlisle has not written to me – I suppose thinking it needless. Call on him – he lives in Soho Square, the door in Charles Street – which is the avenue from Oxford Street. Call on Rickman. I shall forward you letters as fast as I can write them, of useful introduction. [5]  xxx – One parcel of books you will receive by coach – for the sake of speed; – the rest shall travel by waggon for the sake of your Lordships finances, – in this the six first volumes of Froissart go, for this weighty reason. Send home your work as soon as you can & explain this to A Aikin, – if he wants the articles before the waggon arrives. Do you understand me? It will save you three or four shillings not to send these per coach – you will receive by the quickest conveyance all that you want to write from, & if A.A. wants the articles before the others volumes come his Scribe may copy from another set. Had you been here I should have put more books into your hands, – or had you been sooner in London. However you will have enough to be well pleased when you receive payment for them.

And now Sir I have a commission which I must beg you to execute next Sunday, & that is to go to the New Jerusalem <i.e. Swedenborgian> Chapel, it is near S^t James’s Square, & that is all the direction I can give you, – but you will look well asking your way to it, & no doubt do it with a very grave face. I want an account of the service & of the ceremonies – the ornaments – dress of M^r Proud [6]  the Priest &c – it is for D Manuel, [7]  & he cannot have it too soon, – for I am spurring on Richard Taylor, [8]  & have nearly done the whole.

About the Hospitals you are right – I do not see why a Dispensary will not answer your purpose as well, – but in all probability Carlisle may be able to help you.

I wish you to call on Grosvenor Bedford – who lives in Manchester Buildings Bridge Street – Westminster. I think at N^o 10 – but Rickman perhaps can tell you – as you enter the buildings it is about the fourth door on the left hand. I wish you to call & tell him, – what he will not understand – or not reply to – in my letters – that I really am very uneasy about his health, & very desirous to hear oftener from him upon that account. Should he be well enough <to> be at the Office – which I fear is not the case – an old man who sits at the bottom of the stairs – just you turn under the gateway to go to Rickmans – will direct you up to him.

The Count lodges with Varley [9]  whose name is on the door in a street leading out of Leicester square in this direction [sketch map shows street on NW corner of square and names Cranbourn Alley at NE corner] – for I forget the name – the black mark is the house – [sketch showing a black mark on NW side of street, just north of Leicester Square] he will be glad to see you – & probably hurt if he does not.

I inclose you a pound bill – 7–6 – will come in the parcel, – & my daughter will eat up the other shilling to sett balance the account, – & have no occasion to balance another account in the same way.

God bless you – I am hard at work, & never in better humour for it.

Domine Doctor I find that laudanum taken in small doses – 8 drops thrice a day – always stop a cold with me, – & you may remember how severe my colds have lately been. This was a prescription of Senhoras & a very valuable one it has proved.

RS

Jan^y 17. 1807.

I do not think Coleridge will go yet to London. When he is I will let you know – & where to find him – the Courier office [10]  is the place to enquire at.