The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part 2: 1798-1803 A Romantic Circles Electronic Edition Southey, Robert, 1774-1843 Lynda Pratt Romantic Circles General Editor, Neil Fraistat General Editor, Steven E. Jones Technical Editor Laura Mandell 2011-08-15 rce459 letterEEd.26.450 Romantic Circles, http://www.rc.umd.edu, University of Maryland College Park, MD August 15, 2011

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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.

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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450. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 24 October 1799 Address: To/ Grosvenor Charles Bedford Esqr/ Exchequer/ Westminster/ SingleEndorsement: 24 Octr. 1799MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 23Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 203–205.
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.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. 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.Bernard Picart (1673–1733), Ceremonies et Coutumes de Tous Les Peuples du Monde (1723–1743). I was right in the fact as I have since found from Charlevoix.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. let me send you once more to your books. in Sir John Maundeviles Travels there is an account of the Paradise of Aloadin or AladeulesJohn 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. – perhaps he may bear a different name there – however you cannot mistake. twas a sort of Apollo-Gardens or dog Oriental Dog & DuckThe 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. 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 Annual Anthology (1799). 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. Annual Anthology (1800) contains no contributions by Grosvenor Bedford.

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.

LaneRichard Lane (1772–1858) Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, BA 1794, MA 1799. Clergyman, perpetual curate of Brixton, Devon from 1802. 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?Jean Gagnier (1670–1740), La Vie de Mahomet (1732). it is a French book & I believe in two volumes. I should like BoulainvilliersHenri, Comte de Boulainvilliers (1658–1722), La Vie de Mahomed (1730). also if you can meet with it.

God bless you. yrs as ever Robert Southey.

write.