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British Library, Add MS 30927. Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), I, pp. 50–52.
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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You will perhaps be surprized to hear that I write this from Westgate Buildings. but thus stands the case, Edith has been unwell, & in consequence of this we are arrived here on our way to Bristol for the spring & summer.
My Mother’s trip to London did
her good. she slept there only three nights & returned the fourth. I
embargoed the likeness for you, but have left it in London, as these are
troublesome things to carry – & there is a danger of breaking the glass. I
have brought down Bedfords book
Yesterday I was at Bristol & looking over a mans shoulder at
the newspaper – I was astonished to see my Uncles arrival in England. if
this visit be not on account of his health it will give me very great pleasure
to see him again.Prince of Wales was
widely announced in the London Press (e.g.
On Monday last I went to Covent Garden to see Joan of Arc or the
Maid of Orleans.goes conspires with Alençon & they try to
poison Bl young Talbot. she is discovered – goes
to a rocky desart place, & there calls up the Devil – (do’nt swear Tom!) up comes old Lucifer – red hot –
hissing from hell. he gives her a compact to sign. she hesitates. the rock opens
& discovers Talbot & Blanche in a bower, with Cupids hovering over them.
she xxxxx xx She resolves – the & signs her name in letters which appear
traced in fire as she writes them. then Beelz
Lucifer gives her a banner, she proclaims her mission – takes the armour from
the tomb, which falls to pieces – defeats the English, captures Talbot & her
sister, & throws them into a dungeon. they escape – another battle ensues –
her sword & shield break – she is taken prisoner – but pardoned at the
intercession of her sister – out she rushes to the place of her incantation –
& up comes Lucifer. the rock opens & discovers the mouth of hell – like
a large cod fish. the mouth opens – a legion of Beelzebubs come out – & bear
in Joan amid fire & flames. Tom I did not swear at all this – but I believe had you been there, you would have
rapped out some most seamanly oaths.
Lloyd has at last resolved to
publish his poems with Lambs, the
volume will be very small – & I should suppose cannot be long in
printing.
We had this morning a letter from Harry. it is likely [MS torn] may visit Yarmouth this spring. thus it falls out. I have two terms to keep at Grays Inn, both which may be kept in three weeks, now in the time between those two dinners, I may amuse myself by walking to see George Burnett.
Edith bore the journey very well. she desires me to inform you that she has got a Robert – commonly called a Bob – alias wig. We go to Bristol in the middle of next week – you will direct to Cottles.