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National Library of Wales, MS 4811D. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), I, pp. 331–332 [in part].
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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I came here yesterday to superintend the sending of my
books,
You have seen my
brother in the gazette I suppose mentioned honourably – & in the
wounded list.Mars and L’Hercule on
21 April 1798 had been published, along with a list of the killed and
wounded, in the
We expect him home daily. he attended the funeral of poor Captain Hood, a man who was uncommonly kind to him, & whom he respected & regrets.
Edith is better one day & worse the next – in that languid & declining way – that fluctuating state that seems only to raise hopes to destroy them. Of my Mother I have hopes it is anxiety that has been the primary source of her illness – but I now hope that the causes will soon be removed, & am willing to believe that the effect will cease also. Our prospects would be brighter than they ever yet have been – were it not for these clouds. I do not love to dwell upon this subject – let what will come I am prepared – & knowing this it is better as far as possible to immerse myself like a school boy in the present.
Why have you been so silent? do not hint at any of this when you write – I shall see you in a fortnight & will then tell you what alteration that time has made. it will not be much – I fear me there is a slow wasting away. I am very well myself; but far less capable of bearing fatigue than I have been. the machine was not made to last long – but it will last as long as I shall wish it.
I am sorry the copy of my Letters
I do not know now whether it would be prudent in Tom to accompany Ld Proby to Lisbon. as Ld Bridport has sent word
to him that he would not forget him when he had served his time, & offered
him a birth on board his own ship. he will use his own judgement – &
probably I think follow the fortune of Butterfield the 1st
Lieutenant.Mars
after its Captain had been killed. He was credited with capturing the French
ship L’Hercule and on his return to Britain was
promoted to Master and Commander; see the