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British Library, Add MS 30,927. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), I, pp. 326–328 [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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I went yesterday with this folded sheet to get it franked but Wynn had left town for the Xmas, & was not expected to return till Thursday next, & I was not willing to delay longer a letter already delayed too long. We are about to remove our quarters. the people of this house are shamefully dishonest. Harry slept with Lloyd whilst he was here, & they even charged a shilling <a> night for that! we think of returning to Prospect Place to avoid the risque of getting again among the Philistines, & to be as near the fresh air as we can. Lloyd leaves us in consequence of this arrangement, as the distance does not suit him.
I have also another motive for wishing to live out of the town, to avoid the swarm of acquaintance who buz round me & sadly waste my time, an article I can but little afford to throwx away. I have my law — which will soon occupy me from ten in the morning till 8 in an office, excepting the dinner time. my Joan of Arc takes up more time than you would suppose, for I have had a mine of riches laid open to me in a library
My Mothers affairs go on but badly. my Aunt has been with her, & you know how mischievous an effect her presence always has. the house has been advertised, & as Cottle has undertaken to manage every thing when a tenant can be found, I am xxxx satisfied that every thing will be done properly. but the difficulty lies in finding a tenant — & in the mean time my mother writes that her affairs grow worse. at this season this is somewhat strange.
Burnett is much pleased with Harry, & I hope Harry will be pleased with Burnett. I know of no situation at once so comfortable & so advantageous for him.
I keep a large copy of my poems for you. they have sold uncommonly well. 1000 were printed & I hear 750 are already gone. the Joan of Arc is scandalously delayed at Bristol. I have had only five proofs in all, & this delay, as the book is wanted, is a serious loss. a print of the Maid will be prefixed — solely for the sake of giving Robert Hancock
You will be surprized to hear that I have been planning a charitable institution which will in all probability be established. it was planned with John May & Carlisle. & the outline is simply this. many poor wretches whom perish after they have been healed at the hospitals by returning to unwholesome air, scanty & bad food, cold & filth. we mean to employ them in a large garden, for every person may be usefully employed in some manner here, & their x health will be established by such employment. when in good order the produce of the garden will support the institution. in the long winter evenings the people will be employed in making nets, baskets & matting, & the women in making sheeting, all things that will be wanted at home, & for the overplus a ready sale will be had among the supporters of this Convalescent Asylum. my name will not appear in this business & tho in fact I shall be one of the main springs, I leave the credit to Lords & Esqrs. I will send you our printed plan as soon as it is ready. six hours labour will be the utmost time required from the strongest persons. for extra work they will be paid — & thus they may leave the Asylum with some little money, & with some useful knowledge. We are much pleased with this scheme, as it will make every body useful whom it benefits. a man with one leg may make holes for cabbages with his wooden leg, & a fellow with one arm follow & put in the plants.
If you ever go to Kingsbridge call upon Lightfoot, he will be very glad to see you. he is a clergyman, & Usher at a school there.
Would you were here tomorrow — we would keep holy day — but tis very long since Xmas has been a festival with us. God bless you. direct to Wynn. Ediths love.
Captain Danversxx, but withal one of the pleasantest & most gentlemanly men I ever met with. I break the wafer to say this.