309. Robert Southey to John May, 1 May [1798] ⁠* 

Tuesday. May 1^st. Bath.

My dear friend

We have of late been very uneasy respecting my brother in the Mars. The gazette relieved us by making honourable mention of him, & luckily we knew nothing of his wounds, till his own letter informed us last night. [1]  His escape has been almost miraculous – he was by the Captain when the Boatswain [2] came to ask if they should board the enemy forwards – by all means was the reply. Tom caught up a pike & ran to that part of the ship. he found them all in confusion, & as he imagined only wanting a leader. he cried out will you follow me? they answered yes by G– Sir to Hell! my brother got upon the anchor & from thence on board the Hercules – he had just made his landing good whence he received a thrust from a pike in his right thigh, & immediately a second, which made him loose his hold & he fell beneat between the two ships. as he was falling they made a third thrust at his back. the pike glanced from his shoulder blade so as to pass twice thro all his cloaths & take out a small piece of flesh. providentially as he fell he caught hold of a rope hanging from the anchor, hung by it & got upon his own deck. he then clapt his hand to the wounds on his thigh, & felt them bleeding profusely, the bloody running down his leg. he was fearful lest he should faint with loss of blood & be thrown overboard, & so made his way to the cock pit. his letter is written in high spirits – but the horrible scene he witnessed, particularly in the cock pit – has strongly impressed him. we expect him home. Ld Bridport sent him word that he would not forget him.

I have always I trust been sensible of the folly & wickedness of these war systems – & yet methinks I feel it somewhat more strongly now. here are ninety men killed & wounded in the Mars (& Tom says this number is he fears rather too little than too much) & 350 Frenchmen. What an aggregate of wretchedness when we consider the branchings of their connections!

We removed here on Saturday last. [MS torn] I was sorry to leave Bristol before Beddoes had finis[MS torn] his course of chemical lectures [3]  to which he had given m[MS torn] an admission ticket. I was sorry likewise to remove Ed[MS torn] from a situation more favourable in air & for the opport[MS torn] of exercise than this. but I found it necessary for my mothers spirits, on which her health so much depends – & also to prevent her from exposing herself to damp weather & easterly winds, which nothing but my presence could effectually do. My Mother is surprizingly better, but her health sadly fluctuates. at Midsummer the Landlord [4]  takes to the house – I have heard nothing from Lisbon – & must write thither again, upon the subject of this her removal, that the money in M^r Burns [5]  hands, which he designed to extricate her, & which I prevented from being less usefully employed, may now be thus directed. When this business is once settled I shall feel a heavy load removed from my mind.

I corrected my last proof [6]  the morning of my departure. the large copies [7]  will be got ready this week, & I go over on Friday to dispatch them, so that I hope to send you one on Monday next, with one for Burn.

When shall I begin to carry the begging box in this part of the world? [8]  I shall be in London the eighteenth & leave it the 22^nd for Yarmouth.

Edith is some little better – but her health varies likewise. she desires to be remembered.

God bless you

yrs affectionately

Robert Southey