4299. Robert Southey to Edith May Southey, 20 December 1824
MS: British Library, Add MS 47888. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.
I have desired Bedford to send you 30 £.
Wesley
is to be had at Longmans, – not at Murrays, who has published nothing for me except the B Church, the Peninsular War & the Life of Nelson.
Of course what you get at Longmans is to be charged to my account.
You will hear from Mrs Joshua
whether there be any chance of your returning with Miss Bristow,
which if it should so fall out would be the best arrangement that could be devised; but this I fear is not likely. Her stay seems to be uncertain, & she may have visits to make on the way. We must be on the look out for the first opportunity of convoy that offers after the beginning of February. Any delay after that time will be so much disappointment here.
Lady M.
shall have the Paraguay
– of which certain copies shall be at your disposal. But do not look for it too soon. For tho I shall certainly soon finish it (being some way in the last canto) – the prints will xxx occasion some delay.
Your xx weather must be better than ours or we should not hear of your walking. It is a long while since we have had a dry day, or seen a gleam of sunshine. So wet a winter I never remember, nor such a series of bad weather as we have experienced during the last three months.
When I have told you that we are all well (thank God) – that Rumpelstilschen
is grown very corpulent, – & that we see nobody, & hear nothing xxx except the wind, & now & then Jeffrey at nights,
– what more shall I say?
Why, I have recollected this: that “the royal patent self-illuminating pocket lamp”
is sold where the Seidlitz powders
are, 136 Bond Street,
– & also, which is nearer you, in Oxford Street at Sangers 150, & Barkers 125.
You had better send one in the box, the price is not mentioned in the advertisement. It produces light by pulling a string.
Love & kind remembrances to all
God bless you
RS.
Keswick 20 Dec. 1824.
