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. Previously published: Charles Ramos, The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 68-70.
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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Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
Writing in other hands appearing on these manuscripts has been indicated as such, the content recorded in brackets.
& has been used for the ampersand sign.
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So long a time has elapsed that I know not when I wrote last to you, or whether I am about to tell you what has been before communicated.
My design of residing at Keswick has proved abortive. the quantity of room required could not be spared, tho I had reason to expect otherwise. I had then to look about again – for some residence to suit me – & hope I am in a fair way of finding one, being in treaty at present for a house in Glamorganshire, eight miles from Neath – in a good climate, & most beautiful country, where food is cheap, fuel at a very low price, & a canal near the house for regular conveyance – even from Bristol if I need it. the house is furnished – a great convenience as it leaves me more at liberty. in a fortnight I am to hear farther about it – our negociation is about certain alterations – there is a kitchen to be added & I want a room above it – somewhat larger than the others, to be my study.
This I know has not been communicated to you before – but am not quite so sure that what follows will not be a twice
told tale. I went to John Southey – that Uncle whom for 26 years I had not seen.
he received me with great civility. the wig that is only powdered for Sunday, was powdered in the middle of the week – the Sunday coat
put on – a barrel of strong beer broached, & a fire lit in the best parlour. good symptoms you will say but I have opened an
intercourse which I know not how to keep up. his talents were by nature of no common stamp – they have been exclusively directed to the
law, which he has now for years abandoned. his books are such books as a man buys who thinks he must fill a bookcase, because a
bookcase is a common piece of furniture. Smollets Historyr Mavorall the rest the magazine. but he now has it in contemplation to take in Newtons
Principia in numbers, having heard of Sir Isaac Newton.pronounces speaks like a man who has never heard conversation above that of his
hinds. when I left him he shook me by the hand & wished me a pleasant tower, for I was going into
Glamorganshire in quest of this house. before he saw me he had said I was “a damnd shrewd fellow” – & now this precious
commendation is exchanged for pity – my voice, he says, is gone already – & doubtless he thinks that I had better be thinking of my
own death, than gaping for his. poor miserable man. I sate smoking with him till midnight & thinking how miserable he was, &
what he must think of Tom & myself, then in the room with him – who had grown
up with no feeling of family love – & who could only be regarded by him as vultures following an army. I talked with an effort –
not of my own concerns – not of my family – those were subjects not to be touched upon – we had no common feelings, no common interests
– no common recollections. time hung heavy – the mouldering of a wood fire became a perceptible sound – & I never ceased to hear
the click of the house <clock.> there was no after invitation at parting – nothing like – I shall be glad to see you – or hear of
you – a low bow & a shake by the hand – & I know as little as ever how to act with him. pride & resentment for the neglect
of a common duty would have justified me in never noticing him – but what intercourse can I keep up – or how? – I can only call at his
house if ever my road lies near it – or if any thing of importance befalls me let him know by letter – that is of important good – for
other news would only provoke a curse at impertinence. his occupation now is farming – he has no longer strength for it & means to
give it up – what will become of him in utter illness – without any resource, without any companion – for already he has quarrelled
with all his old companions from a trick of thinking over words by himself till he extracts from them some uncivil sense as food for
resentment.
Your God-daughter Margaret goes on well – a quiet
little child, who has given me a set of new feelings for which I am the better & the happier. She lives wholly upon her mother as Nature designed. Edith
is in tolerable health. I am well & shall try to keep so thro the winter as far as all precautions mental as well as bodily can
avail. I am very hard at work. till twelve every morning I give to a booksellers jobvague confused
recollections of the events that occupied my last evenings thoughts.
My Uncle & myself have both been studying with equal delight & equal
wonder the character & writings of Vieyra.
Edith desires to be remembered. my own remembrance also to Mrs May.those <all> that are to come in secula seculorum
here I of course remain till I move definitively