425. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 2–3 August 1799 ⁠* 

Minehead Somsetsetshire. Friday Aug 2. & Saturday. 3. 1799

My dear Grosvenor

I write to you from Minehead – where I have past the longest week that ever uneasiness lengthened out. Edith has been very ill & is recovering so very slowly as hardly to render the daily amendment perceptible. I know not her complaint – it is a general debility – a wasting away – want of appetite – want of sleep – Grosvenor you have no anxieties of this kind.

Your ballad [1]  is so good that I found it an effort of great self-denial not to print it – voila – my reason. the book will circulate much among Ladies who read poetry more than men; there is nothing objectionable to <in> the point – but a woman who should be reading the book aloud at haphazard – would feel very awkward when she came to the conclusion. I took counsel & reluctantly yielded to an unanimous opinion, for the ballad is admirable. I did not expect one so good. write more in this way & you will find a talent rich & improveable.

Cottle is commissioned to forward your copy [2]  as soon as the book is done – with one for Horace. there is a delay about paper – but it cannot be many days longer I think. the Endor Witch is in status quo in my desk – one of the corps de reserve for Volume 2 which is now preparing. [3]  you will find many pieces to amuse you & some few of a higher order. the first poem [4]  – (by W^m Taylor –) is in my judgement of uncommon excellence, more profuse in new & rich imagery than almost any piece that I remember. I look to you for some supplies in the succeeding volumes – I look on this volume <Anthology> with very interesting feelings – it reminds me of many friends. let me never wreathe a garland Grosvenor without one flower from you.

I write under the impression of uneasy thoughts, we meant to go round Devonshire & I am fearful that we must return to Bristol that Edith may be under Beddoes. she is however recovering I think. bad weather keeps me within doors, & anxiety takes away the power of employing myself there.

Some day when you are in the library & with no immediate employment refer to Picart for me. [5]  there is (or I have dreamt so) a custom among some American savages of digging up annually all their relations who have died in the preceding year. see if you can find it mentioned & just give me the outline of the ceremony. I think it was the Floridans who observed it.

Duppa sent me his book. [6]  I thankd him & feel obliged. If you have a ready written letter, or one ready to write, direct it to me at Mr Alloways Minehead <Somersetshire>. [7]  Edith is certainly recovering & we shall proceed on Friday next. if you delay writing for ten days direct then Post Office Ilfracombe Devonshire to remain till called for.

Grosvenor I have more than once felt an inclination to write to you respecting Carlisle. you perhaps overrated his good qualities once – but do you not under-rate them now? & subtracting the due deficit from them, are there not enough remaining to constitute him – if not quite a friend – yet something very near it – one to regard & from whose company much pleasure may be derivable? it is very painful – I know it by much experience, to have your friends sink in the thermometer of your esteem, but I am afraid we like [MS obscured] xxxx we are with friends like Astronomers, who when they discover a spot in the sun look at nothing else. friendship on the wane is like the sick person who loathes the favourite food of his health. by all this I only mean that tho Carlisle has some faults he has more good qualities, that tho bipennated beings [8]  may be are much better, a great proportion of bipeds are much worse. I do not want you to throw away your heart upon him – but I would have your hand ready to receive him with the grasp of cordiality – this last phrase makes my fingers itch for a shake of the hand with you –

God bless you.

yrs in sæcula sæculorum [9] 

R Southey.

do not forget my remembrances to Mr & Mrs B.