Burton near Ringwood. Hampshire.
Thursday 24 Oct. 1799.
My dear Grosvenor
Here I am – knee deep in brick, mortar &
deal shavings, superintendant of the revolutionizing our
dwelling. But we are in an uncomfortable state of anxiety
about poor Tom.
for these eight weeks we have not heard of him – & a
paragraph in the papers states that a brig was seen lying in
Ferrol, which was supposed to be the Sylph. [1] I know not whether any tidings
could be obtained from the Admiralty – if there could I
should be obliged to you to call there & make enquiry –
but it appears to me that if they had any tidings the loss
of the ship would be gazetted.
Thank you for exploring Picart for me. [2] I was
right in the fact as I have since found from
Charlevoix. [3] let me
send you once more to your books. in Sir John Maundeviles
Travels there is an account of the Paradise of Aloadin or
Aladeules [4] – perhaps he may bear a different name
there – however you cannot mistake. twas a sort of
Apollo-Gardens or dog
Oriental Dog & Duck [5] where he used to
convey young men after an opium dose & persuade them
that he had Houris & Paradise to reward those who obeyed
him, even in this life. in your copy of Maundevile you will
find it page 336. will you copy me the passage. I have
business with the old Gentleman & would have as many
documents as possible.
You say I have
invited of the Anthology [6] that I have invited you to dine on roast
beef & given you a French hash. it is not quite the case
– I simply invite my guests to dinner – there are dishes in
plenty – those who <do> not like high seasoned ones
will find somewhat plainer by its side. Send me something
for the next volume. it goes to press in December. [7]
Grosvenor can you never make a weeks leisure
to visit me? now indeed – unless you were studying scenery
for a picture or poem upon the Deluge – the country is not
worth seeing. but if Spring Summer & Autumn are only
missing & not dead – why when one of them is found
surely surely you might come. here, is the New Forest to be
seen – & the Island – & me – & you shall help me
to dig in the garden – & we will go up the church tower,
& I will be as idle & as happy as you can wish.
Do you know that I have seen a man
exceedingly like you, & what is curious is that
indecision is the prominent feature in his character. but
for the face resemblance I never saw so
striking a-one. if that phrase looks as ugly to your eye as it does to mine, you
will learn to write one so
striking.
Lane [8]
called upon me at Exeter & I dined with him. he is now a
handsome man – in orders – without much information – &
not likely to pick up more. I never accidentally think of
Westminster without remembering Bunbury.
While he lived I re[MS torn] that his attachments were never
rooted – but s[MS torn] old feelings with which I have sat
whole evenings [MS torn] have revived, where & what is
he now? m[MS torn] upon all subjects – they may disbelieve
Revelat[MS torn] but annihilation seems to me an impossible
[MS torn] the merest particle of matter is indestructible.
[MS torn] changed – but still it exists. he might must [MS torn]
metaphysician who imagines that Atheism pr[MS torn] of
existence. Grosvenor I feel now how s[MS torn] it is to
write.
The winter comes on & I look forward [MS
torn] with the ill bodings of an invalid to its inclemency
[MS torn] constitution & opinions. Nature dropt me by
mis[MS torn] side of the channel.
You are in the way of seeing Catalogues – or
you [MS torn] be – will you look for Gagniers Life of
Mahomet for me? [9] it is a French book & I believe in
two volumes. I should like Boulainvilliers [10] also if you can meet
with it.
God bless you.
yrs as ever
Robert Southey.
write.
Notes
* Address: To/ Grosvenor Charles Bedford
Esqr/ Exchequer/ Westminster/
Single
Endorsement: 24 Octr.
1799
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c.
23
Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.),
New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols
(London and New York, 1965), I, pp.
203–205. BACK
[1] It was widely reported in
the British Press in early October 1799, e.g. St
James’s Chronicle, 5 October 1799, that the
brig, Sylph, on which Tom Southey
was serving, had been captured and was at the Spanish
port of Ferrol. BACK
[2] Bernard Picart
(1673–1733), Ceremonies et Coutumes de Tous Les
Peuples du Monde (1723–1743). BACK
[3] Pierre Francois Xavier de Charlevoix (1682–1761),
Histoire et Description Generale de la
Nouvelle-France (1744). Southey had asked
Bedford (2–3 August 1799, Letter 425) to search Picart’s
Ceremonies for the custom of Florida
Indians of digging up their dead relatives each year. He
found a description of a similar ceremony among the
Huron and Iroquois in Charlevoix,
Histoire, Letter XXVI. BACK
[4] John
Mandevile, The Voiage and Travail of Sir John
Maundeville (London, 1727), pp. 336–339; a
reprint of an influential 14th-century travel book.
Southey referenced the ‘account’ in the notes to
Thalaba the Destroyer (1801), Book 7,
line 256. BACK
[5] The Apollo Gardens, a pleasure garden,
and the Dog and Duck, a tavern, were in St George’s
Fields, Southwark, South London. Both were well known
for providing cheap amusements. BACK
[7]
Annual
Anthology (1800) contains no contributions
by Grosvenor Bedford. BACK
[8] Richard Lane (1772–1858) Westminster and Trinity
College, Cambridge, BA 1794, MA 1799. Clergyman,
perpetual curate of Brixton, Devon from 1802. BACK
[9] Jean
Gagnier (1670–1740), La Vie de Mahomet
(1732). BACK
[10] Henri, Comte de
Boulainvilliers (1658–1722), La Vie de
Mahomed (1730). BACK
