4076. Robert Southey to Herbert Hill, 27 October 1823
Address: To/ The Reverend Herbert Hill/ Streatham/ Surrey
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmarks: E/ 30 OC 30/ 1823; OF. NOON/ OC. 30/ 1823
MS: Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, WC 237. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.
It is my intention to make Streatham my head quarters, but I cannot proceed thither in the first instance for sundry reasons. It is very possible that we may arrive in London at night, this being a matter in which we shall have no choice, but must take the chance of the road. As the time is thus uncertain, so is the day, depending upon the weather. Rain may prevent us from seeing some of the objects which we hope to visit. If all things prove favourable we may sleep at Matlock on Saturday the 8xx th pass the Sunday morning there, & proceed after in the afternoon to Derby. There we shall part with our fellow travellers,
make some calls, & reach Cole Orton to dinner on the Monday. There I think of staying either two or three days, as we may feel disposed. Sir George will send us to Loughborough, & then we must trust to fortune. The most likely thing is that we shall have to travel from thence by night. But whether we shall reach London on Saturday the 15th – or one two or three days sooner depends (setting other chances aside) upon so uncertain a thing as the weather. Of course I shall let Henry hear of me from Cole Orton.
I shall be glad to reach Streatham as soon as I can, & settle to work there, – for I shall have my last chapter to write,
& also a paper to finish for the QR.
But if we arrive on the Saturday I shall hardly be able to get out of town till Tuesday.
The very thought of moving, now it is so near, gives me a sort of bowelquake.
Love to my Aunt & the children -
God bless you
RS.
