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Bodleian Library, Eng. Lett. c. 23. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849-1850), II, pp. 157-160 [in part].
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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The tone & temper of your letter left me in an uncomfortable mood. certainly I deserved it – but as far as
negligence deserves reproof so harsh – but indeed Grosvenor you have been somewhat like the Scotch judge who included all rape robbery
x murder & horsestealing under the head of seditiont Augustine & his load
With Drummond
Thus then is my time employed – or thus it ought to be – for how much is dissipated by going here & there –
dinnering & tea-taking – & suppering traying or eveninging take which phrase of fashion pleases you – you may guess. – you
asked me about Thalaba – owing to my absence the printer dirtily enough did not print any large paper copies – whenever a second be
printed you shall have one. I stipulated for twelve copies of the poem – of which you of course had one – you will therefore either
write “from his schoolfellow & friend” after your own name in it – or wait till I can write it myself. – did you get a second
Anthology?
Grosvenor I perceive no change in myself – nor any symptoms of change – I suffer only in years from what I was – &
years make less difference in me than in most men. – alls things considered I feel myself a fortunate
& happy man – the future wears a better face that it ever has done – & I have no reason to regret that indifference to fortune
which has marked the past – By the by it is unfortunate that you cannot come to the sacrifice of one Law Book – my whole proper stock –
whom I design to take up to the top of Mount Etna – for the express purpose of throwing him down, straight to the Devil. Huzza
Grosvenor – I was once afraid that I should have a deadly deal of Law to forget whenever I had done with it but my brains – God bless
them – never received any – they <it> purged off as it went in – ran thro like water gruel after
jalapthe Sows Doctor
Halfpenny Greens Sows julep
You will direct to Keswick Cumberland – I set off on Saturday next – & shall be there about Tuesday – & if you could contrive to steal time for a visit to the Lakes you would find me a rare guide.
Rickman is about leaving London, (where he has been labouring at the Population
acthis scheme) – to go as Secretary with AbbotBeltona in this action, and was listed as wounded, e.g. in
How & where is Horace? remember me also to your father & mother as one not unmindful of many happy hours passed under their roof.
I have tried to read Pyes Alfredaloud the Poems entitled The Brothers, & Michael
Yours reached me but yesterday & too late for reply.