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Columbia University Library. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 131–132.
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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Thus far my dear Cottle are we advanced on our peregrination. we are
<intend> to remain here a week — this we had resolved upon — & indeed must have done whether we had resolved
so or no. for Edith has been very unwell; most probably in consequence of fatigue. We
arrived here Wednesday evening, & she has not yet been out of this house. but thank God she is greatly recovered.
You know not how heartily I hate moving: & yet we are far from being settled. when our week is up here we purpose going in the stage to Lymington & staying a week there. from thence I can explore Christ Church — as the distance is but 12 miles. there I hope to fix. if you write to me on Monday direct to the Post Office here. between that & the Monday following — to the Post Office Lymington Hampshire. by that time I hope to give you a permanent address.
It is near nine & I am writing without a candle. this light is not pleasant to me — & I do not love a summer evening on that account — darkness begins when the animal spirits require to be recruited by sleep & those spirits die away with the day light. there is another reason why I do not like this time of day at this time of year. there is no fire. I am ashamed to have one — & yet it constitutes a very large portion of my comfort.
This is a foul place. full of aristocrats sailours & all the wretches connected with them. the water not so
fine at as at the passages & as ugly at low tide. the inhabitants are imposing — xxx because they have the rich & foolish to deal with. I shall be glad to get away. Edith is much better; & as I have not her illness to engross & oppress
my mind I shall set to my employments.
Charles Lloyd is going to be married; a Mr Reed,
We are utter strangers here — knowing nobody — seeing nobody — & hearing nothing. this nasty bay does not even furnish a polypus with which I can form an acquaintance. [MS torn]
You will see The Martyrdom of Joan of Arc announced in the next Monthly Magazine.
God bless you.
Ediths love. she is almost recovered