652. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 26 January 1802 ⁠* 

My dear Danvers

You would have heard sooner from me, if my writer of franks had called sooner. I have bought the tickets, & will send them down by Estlin. [1] 

We are on the point – indeed in the very act of removal to N^o35. Strand. a place not noisier than our present abode, & of more convenience in apartments & situation. we are glad too to leave a house connected with unpleasant recollections. Miss Barker is going to lodge in the same house – a pleasant circumstance at any time – & the more so in the deplorable state of Ediths spirits. she is exceedingly ill, far worse than I have ever known her, & an total depression of spirits is a part of her disease. I know not what to do – the state of her stomach is so bad that it turns at any prescribed diet or medicine – & she can digest nothing without aperients. [2]  We have had a comfortless house. our servant [3]  has been saved from a putrid fever by Carlisle, but she has been confined to her bed or to the house ever since my mothers death, & is but just beginning to recover strength. without Mary I know not what we should have done – & she has had her troubles. Old Lovell has written to me to say he will no longer allow her any thing. an annuity of forty pounds was not much to his sons widow. I have replied – to enquire what he will do for the boy  [4]  – & taken up the duty that he does not chuse will not continue to perform. the worst part of the story is to come – I want to be abroad again from a lamentable conviction that it impossible <for me> to enjoy life in England. By day the healthy state of the mind keeps the body in order, but the brother brute as S^t Francis [5]  calls him, gets the better by night.

One of my remedies is change of circumstances – & I shall go for a week to Norwich. Of late I have been much out, uncomfortably & unavoidably. I met Estlin at Barbaulds. [6]  it was quite a Presbyterian dinner – a synod. Kentish [7]  – Joyce [8]  Jervis [9]  – Belsham. [10]  this led to a dinner with Belsham at Hackney – a good natured man whom doubtless you know. I have a whole legion of acquaintance. all the old acquaintanceships that had been dead & buried these ten years have risen again, & new introductions unavoidably increase. this makes sad havoc of my time, & if I did not read full gallop, & in those quarters of hours & ten & five minutes that are usually idled away, I should literally do nothing. – my newspaper speculation has ended in smoke. [11]  my play is planned & no more. [12]  my novel exists in idea like an uncreated world in the mind of Platos Deity. [13]  Madoc grows slowly. [14]  Kehamax stands still – wherefore I shrewdly suspect that what is done is not very good. [15]  if I liked the horse I think he would not stand so long in the stable. meantime I read valiantly & gut folio after folio for all imaginable purposes, but with a main reference to my History. [16]  the Red Cross Library [17]  is the mine from whence I dig my ore. Belsham has given me a Catalogue – Barbauld signs the receipt for the books. Elmsley also feeds me. I am working at a Collection of old French History in 68 octavo volumes which he lends me, full of good matter. [18]  my own books accumulate. if we were but well these employments would make me very happy.

All Beddoes’s friends are exceedingly mortified & surprized at his astonishing folly in that sneering dedication, & his mad attack upon Hannah More. [19]  booby! he has given pain to none but his friends. his enemies have just cause to triumph. he has injured himself beyond recovery. & his book upon consumption [20]  – was ever such a pick-pocket type? –

I have something to tell you of Cottle – the Methodist. [21]  you know how he neglected my large paper copies of the first volume of Poems, [22]  & that he printed twelve just at the time of my return from Portugal. [23]  these he has now sent up & with them a bill of £4 – 11 – for the paper & the trouble of striking off. that is 4 – 11 – 0 – for twelve copies of a book for the copy right of which he paid me 30£. Of course I shall not pay him. besides one of the sheets leave all the pages so misplaced as to render the whole good for nothing. the man has taken to faith & renounced good works in earnest.

I see a second volume of Collinss Botany Bay [24]  advertised, & wish myself at Kingsdown to read it. there however I hope in May to see it. no new books ever fall in my way here. I heard Davys introductory lecture. [25]  it was truly admirable. Coleridge is returned & with him Poole. I find a very useful acquaintance in Heber, whom I met in Wales. the greatest of book collectors, & the most liberal, for he lends me bundle after bundle, unsolicited, hunting his library for what he thinks may be useful to me. the private success of Thalaba equals [26]  – or more than equals my own expectation & belief of its merit. I hear characters, & see letters about it of even exaggerated praise. it were well did the sale keep pace with the reputation. It has done as much for the author of Joan of Arc [27]  – as that poem did for a young & unknown writer.

From Belsham I heard an odd rumour. that the real cause of the frequent adjournments of Parliament was, on a wish in the King to retire altogether from public business – which of course his friends will not readily agree to. it explains Addingtons language. [28] 

Corry & I continue in the same easy intercourse. I shall ask his assistance in getting a situation abroad. the Secretaries of Legation receive 300£ a year. a small income – but I can make it do – & shall accept one – like a reprieve.

It is doubted whether Governor Wall will be hung. [29]  but if he is not the justice of English law must be no more mentioned. the people draw the fair inference & say there is no justice for the rich.

your numbers are

15.177.             the quarter

588.

14.008.           8^th These I bought of M^r Bish [30] 

In hopes that you might have your wish.

2.772.             the quarter

52.910

25.075            eights. These of Mr Maddison [31] 

That his good news might glad ye soon.

The offices are at Charing Cross, next door to each other. the tickets are registered in your name. the whole cost £17 – 6 – 0. the secret hath been duly kept – & so good luck to t’ye.

Our love to Mrs Danvers. her cushion shall come down with us. remember me to King.

God bless you –

yrs affectionately

Robert Southey.

Tuesday 26. Jan^y. 1802.