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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. 56–58.
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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We had a fine passage of five & a half
days, delightful weather & light winds all the way. yet
we both suffered much, scarcely eating or sleeping the whole
of the way. On Thursday we left Falmouth, at five in the
evening, glad to escape. my feeling at quitting England was
not unpleasant, serious but not depressing. as we left the
harbour all the land objects seemed to rock like a dream.
one hour sickened me – I only rose the three following days
just to wash myself & crawl on deck while John MoorKing
George packet.King George.
Endymion.Prince Ernest was another packet
ship, which sailed on the Falmouth to Lisbon
route.
Tuesday evening we saw the Berlings. the next
morning I rose with the Sun, & saw the Sun rise over the
rock, where he seemed to rest a moment as he rose. we were
very near the land – so near that I could see flocks of sea
birds sporting over the silver dust of the breakers. any
land is a delightful sight – but that magnificent rock!
& the heights of Cintra ascended as we passed on, & I saw the
Penha, & the summits which I had trod. the very pilot
boat, its great sail floundering about like a womans
petticoats in a high wind, unmanageable as an umbrella in a
storm, seemed like an old acquaintance – I laid hold of the
pilot & whetted my jargon Portugueze upon him – at the
expence of a testoon
Ediths eyes
quickened mine. hers had not been blunted, & every thing
was new. the windmills drawn up in battle array amused upon every hill very
much amused one of our fellow travellers.t Joses – a large inn
with the great coach door – & the sign. we gave him the
glass – it was a convent & a crucifix. before we
anchored I saw my
Uncle. Warden the Commissary
We are in the same street with the
Hairs.
My Uncles
house is almost altered out of knowledge, & much
improved. I only recommend some red cords on each side his
stair case that I may go down backwards as on board the
packet. He looks exceedingly well. I miss poor Ursula
As yet I have only seen strange faces –
except Mrs Hair & Charlotte. Isabel
has the tooth-ache. today I go to leave my card at Mr Walpoles
____
I have been to Mr
Walpoles – to the Consuls & General Fraziers
I hope you received a bankers draft on
Sir James Esdailesilver hunting watch price 5 guineas – it is for Manuel.
Wartons Essay on Pope.& should you
chxxxx to pxxx. they must be directed to my Uncle
– & to Capt Yescombes care, whom
I found very attentive in every possible kindness. if
also you can get the best stereotypic edition – that is
the best paper) of Jean Bapt. Rousseauthis
none of it has yet reached Portugal. – I would apologize
for all this but you I know will not expect it.
I have seen Dr
Pitcairn – he advises the moderate use of laudanum, –
wine – exercise – summer at Cintra – &
time in Portgual. he confirms the opinion given that I
have no organic disease, but a dreadfully diseased
irritability, which will yield to care & climate,
but must yield slowly. above all I must be in no hurry
to return.