783. Robert Southey to John May, 16 May 1803
*
My dear friend
Robert Lovell is seven years
& seven months old. his disposition is good & he is sufficiently quick
of comprehension. his fathers family are Quakers. the grandfather an opulent man – a
pin-manufacturer. but tho opulent he has a very large family of young children
by a second marriage & his household is expensive. he has very abominably
thrown off this poor child, with some difficulty having been prevailed on to pay
his schooling till Midsummer next in the hope that by that time he might be got
into the Hospital. [1] however there can be little fear but that shame will
make <him> continue this supply longer. prospects the boy has none, he has
abundance of wealthy relations by the fathers side, but they have all families
of their own – & will not among them be at the charge of his education. his mother is with us, & would be
very glad to get any situation as governess or companion that would enable her
to support the child herself. he has only been registered among the Quakers –
not baptized – but the Child has been in habits of going to Church &
dressing &c like other children. I apprehend it will be necessary to have
them him christened according to the Church forms.
When I go to London it will be alone. My Uncle has some commissions
for Lord Bath [2] & the D of Bedford [3] which he wishes me to deliver, & for
these I shall wait – this I have told him & they will probably soon arrive.
my stay will not be long. I shall have a bed at Rickmans, & so be at little
expense, except of time – but the Museum [4] & the Kings
Library [5] to which I am promised access will
enable me to collect some valuable matter. The book you mention may remain for
you – but I should be obliged to you to open it & see if there be any
letter. it is the Cronica del Rey D Affonso 4. by Ruy de Pina, edited by Pedro
de Maniz, [6] & it compleats my series of Portugueze
Chronicles.
The prospect of war distresses me on every account. with a view
to my own individual concerns I shall be materially inconvenienced if the French
should eject the English from Lisbon. any communication with Madrid would be
immediately cut off – no possibility of procuring more books – & no means of
going over to collate written documents – & examine the scenery country as I else hope & trust to do
in the winter of next year.
I shall be very glad to see you at Richmond & talk over with
you the subject of our late letters & a hundred things beside – We beg our
remembrances to Mrs May [7] –
God bless you –
yrs affectionately
Robert Southey
May 16. 1803.
Kingsdown.
Notes* Address: To/ John May Esqr/ 4. Tavistock
Street/ Bedford Square/ London/ Single
Postmarks: BRISTOL/ MAY 16/ 1803;
B/ MAY 17/ 1803
Endorsements: No. 79 80 1803/ Robert Southey/ Kingsdown 16th May/ recd. 17th do/ ansd. personally;
NB. I gave Mr Powell ye following acct of Robert Lovell. R.L. is 7 years
& 7 ms old. his disposition is good & he is
sufficiently quick of comprehension. His father is dead, & his mother is
seeking ye situation of governess or companion to a lady, for ye support of
herself & child; but, as to Education, she has not ye means to afford
him any. Her family are in very indigent circumstances & her husbands
relations have all large families of thr own to provide for & will not
among them be at ye charge of ye lad’s education. [Editor’s note: Mr Powell
is probably either James (dates unknown) or Hugh (dates unknown) Powell,
both governors of Christ’s Hospital school.]
MS: Harry Ransom Humanities
Research Center, University of Texas, Austin
Previously published:
Charles Ramos, The Letters of Robert Southey to John May:
1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 78-79. BACK [1] Christ’s Hospital, a
public school, founded in 1552, which educated many pupils for free or at a
reduced fee. BACK [2] Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess
of Bath (1765-1837). BACK [3] John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839;
DNB). BACK [4] The British Museum, London, opened in 1759. BACK [5] The Kings Library at Windsor,
collected by George III (1738-1820, King of Great Britain 1760-1820) and
given to the nation in 1823. BACK [6] Rui de Pina (1440-1521),
Chronica de el Rey Dom Alfonso o Quarto do Nome e Settimo dos
Reys de Portugal (1653), no. 3350 in the sale catalogue of
Southey’s library. BACK [7] Susanna Frances Livius (1767-1830). BACK |
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