339. Robert Southey to William Roscoe, 26 July 1798 ⁠* 

Bristol. July 26. 1798.

Sir

The subject on which I am about to write will I hope excuse me in thus addressing a stranger. M^r William Gilbert is now in Liverpool, from whence he intends to work his passage to Africa. he is a man of much information & much genius, but afflicted with that worst calamity, mental derangement; & should he leave England without money, & on the wild idea of being divinely called to Africa, the fatigues of such a voyage & the situation he would be in at its close would probably be fatal to him. What Sir I have taken the liberty to request of you is, that you would inform the Captain of any African vessel about to sail that M^r Gilbert is deranged, that they might refuse to take him. this will give his friends time to consider & act. if also if <by> any accident you should meet with Gilbert, I beg no notice may be taken of any interference on the part of me & his Bristol acquaintance.

I am Sir

yrs respectfully

Robert Southey.