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Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin. Previously published: Charles Ramos, (ed.), The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 94–95.
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.
Any dashes occurring in line breaks have been removed.
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Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
Writing in other hands appearing on these manuscripts has been indicated as such, the content recorded in brackets.
& has been used for the ampersand sign.
£ has been used for £, the pound sign
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Your letter which should have arrived on Wednesday afternoon did not reach me till Thursday morning, in consequence of
a fall of snow – & Thursday we have no post to London. My Uncles
preferment must send in a net income to a much greater amount than 300 £. the annual renewal of Downesxxx the living of
Stanton upon Wyexxx mortgage. So that if the whole were punctually paid it would exceed six hundred. I will
bestir myself in the business, learn what has been done at Little Hereford, see that the Lease be sent over in time for my Uncles signature, & do my best to make Dr Thomas punctually remit to you the receipts of Stanton. there is plainly enough to secure
Harry from the evil of perpetual pressure & uncertainty.
I am very much obliged by what you have done relative to this expedition. if General Moore should have the command I
have applied to him thro his brother,
The Metrical Tales which you may have seen advertised in my name are merely a selection of my own pieces from the
Anthology.
Harry immediately gave up the Cambridge scheme on my remonstrance. he alledged that his only wish was to have his name on the books, understanding that it was no expence – & that if ever he should be enabled to keep terms it would save him two years: his view being to have the power of practising in London which unless a member of the College of Physicians he cannot do without some delay – & certain fines. In part of this he was mistaken, & the whole scheme was given up exactly as it should have been. I do not think there is any danger of his being put out of the right way, if he be not made unhappy by want of supplies. At present his habits & manners are what they should be the society into which he has fallen exactly what I could wish – & indeed I know no young man more likely to distinguish himself & do honour to all who belong to him. He owes every thing to you & William Taylor.
I thought you would have received Madoc long ere this – but it seems the Scotch presbyterian printers
You have seen one of the vignettes to Madoc – under that which represents the Cross on a rock
Here is the Lo I the man
Edith desires to be remembered – & myself also to Mrs May. your god-daughter goes on bravely – I believe these mountains agree with me & begin to hope that I am climate proof.
y. 1805.