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. Previously published: Charles Ramos, The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 68-70.
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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So long a time has elapsed that I know not when I wrote last to you, or whether I am about to tell you what has been before communicated.
My design of residing at Keswick has proved abortive. the quantity of room required could not be spared, tho I had reason to expect otherwise. I had then to look about again – for some residence to suit me – & hope I am in a fair way of finding one, being in treaty at present for a house in Glamorganshire, eight miles from Neath – in a good climate, & most beautiful country, where food is cheap, fuel at a very low price, & a canal near the house for regular conveyance – even from Bristol if I need it. the house is furnished – a great convenience as it leaves me more at liberty. in a fortnight I am to hear farther about it – our negociation is about certain alterations – there is a kitchen to be added & I want a room above it – somewhat larger than the others, to be my study.
This I know has not been communicated to you
before – but am not quite so sure that what follows will not
be a twice told tale. I went to John Southey –
that Uncle whom for 26 years I had not seen. he received me
with great civility. the wig that is only powdered for
Sunday, was powdered in the middle of the week – the Sunday
coat put on – a barrel of strong beer broached, & a fire
lit in the best parlour. good symptoms you will say but I
have opened an intercourse which I know not how to keep up.
his talents were by nature of no common stamp – they have
been exclusively directed to the law, which he has now for
years abandoned. his books are such books as a man buys who
thinks he must fill a bookcase, because a bookcase is a
common piece of furniture. Smollets Historyr Mavorall the
rest the magazine. but he now has it in
contemplation to take in Newtons Principia in numbers,
having heard of Sir Isaac Newton.pronounces speaks like a
man who has never heard conversation above that of his
hinds. when I left him he shook me by the hand & wished
me a pleasant tower, for I was going
into Glamorganshire in quest of this house. before he saw me
he had said I was “a damnd shrewd fellow” – & now this
precious commendation is exchanged for pity – my voice, he
says, is gone already – & doubtless he thinks that I had
better be thinking of my own death, than gaping for his.
poor miserable man. I sate smoking with him till midnight
& thinking how miserable he was, & what he must
think of Tom
& myself, then in the room with him – who had grown up
with no feeling of family love – & who could only be
regarded by him as vultures following an army. I talked with
an effort – not of my own concerns – not of my family –
those were subjects not to be touched upon – we had no
common feelings, no common interests – no common
recollections. time hung heavy – the mouldering of a wood
fire became a perceptible sound – & I never ceased to
hear the click of the house <clock.> there was no
after invitation at parting – nothing like – I shall be glad
to see you – or hear of you – a low bow & a shake by the
hand – & I know as little as ever how to act with him.
pride & resentment for the neglect of a common duty
would have justified me in never noticing him – but what
intercourse can I keep up – or how? – I can only call at his
house if ever my road lies near it – or if any thing of
importance befalls me let him know by letter – that is of
important good – for other news would only provoke a curse
at impertinence. his occupation now is farming – he has no
longer strength for it & means to give it up – what will
become of him in utter illness – without any resource,
without any companion – for already he has quarrelled with
all his old companions from a trick of thinking over words
by himself till he extracts from them some uncivil sense as
food for resentment.
Your God-daughter Margaret goes on well – a quiet little child, who
has given me a set of new feelings for which I am the better
& the happier. She lives wholly upon her mother as
Nature designed. Edith is in tolerable health. I am well &
shall try to keep so thro the winter as far as all
precautions mental as well as bodily can avail. I am very
hard at work. till twelve every morning I give to a
booksellers jobvague confused recollections of the events that
occupied my last evenings thoughts.
My Uncle
& myself have both been studying with equal delight
& equal wonder the character & writings of
Vieyra.
Edith desires
to be remembered. my own remembrance also to Mrs May.those
<all> that are to come in secula seculorum
here I of course remain till I move definitively