1329. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 3 June 1807 ⁠* 

My dear Danvers

You are perfectly right in supposing I meant a sandwich tray. 36/^s was the price <what> we paid at Rings for my Uncles, – the difference of price therefore surprizes me. However we have no friend whom we can trouble at Liverpool, & perhaps Mrs C. speaks of what was the price there three years ago.

You are right too in concluding that if I had received any letters from Mr Smith I should have answered them. One letter he wrote to me let me know his sister had arrived at Lisbon, & no other has ever reached me, – her return I learnt only from you, & accidentally from Edinburgh by way of Harry. this, on my part, I also thought odd, when I thought about it – but now the mystery is explained, & I will without delay write to him. [1]  It is a rule with me to answer every letter which I receive. We may perhaps contrive to go to Bownham together, – that I shall make my journey is as certain as any thing can be, for my next book (the Cid) . [2]  cannot go to the press <be compleated> till I have got at some books in the Museum [3]  & in Ld Hollands library, [4]  & published it must be as soon as it can for cogent reasons. so early in the winter I go to London to do this, & will thence go to Taunton, & take Bristol on my way home

Espriella should be kept generally secret in the hope of passing unknown by the Reviewers. [5]  when that has been effected I shall acknowledge it: but if it be talked of in any private circle, these things soon get wind. I am so little known in prose, except by my immediate friends, that there seems little reason to think that the book will be imputed to me. I have just corrected the eleventh sheet of the last volume; – four, or five more at farthest compleat it. Your copy shall be sent. I wish it were published, & wish also it may have a good sale, not only for a substantial reason which need not be explained, but also because three volumes do not hold half of what I had to say, & I should be very glad to have encouragement to say it all. Rickman, who sees the proofs, says it will be a famous common-sense book.

Revisit Keswick you must. I will enter into a sort of commercial treaty of visits with you, & whenever I go to London, which is to be every other year, take Bristol either going or returning. It is only because this is such a little island that we who count distance by miles, think it a long way between Bristol & Keswick. nearly 300 miles has a long sound – call it 70 leagues & it does not appear so bad. On the continent it would be thought nothing.

The Islanders [6]  are expected this month. my son improves greatly, & my daughter is as much a favourite as ever. – I write in haste not to lose a post –

God bless you

RS.

June 3. 1807.