142. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 [–30] November 1795*

Sunday. 12. o clock. 29. Nov. 1795.

Bedford our Summons arrived this morning. the vessel goes Tuesday & when you receive this, I shall be casting up my accounts with the fishes.

Grosvenor you have my Will. if the ship founders or any other chance gives me sends me to supper — all my papers are yours. they are with my Mother part, & part with Edith. the relic-worship is founded upon human feelings & you will value them. there is little danger of accidents, but there can be no harm in these few lines. All my letters are at your disposal — but it would be right to return your brothers. & if I be drowned — do not you be surprized if I should pay you a visit. for if permitted, & if it can be done without terrifying or any ways injuring you I certainly will do it.

But I shall visit you in propria personâ in the summer.

Would you had been with me the 14th.¹ twas a melancholy day yet mingled with such feelings!

you will get a letter from Madrid. write you to Lisbon. I expect to find letters there, & the expectation will form the pleasantest thoughts I shall experience on my journey.

I should like to find your Musæus² at Bristol on my return. if you will direct it to Miss E Fricker (heigh ho! Grosvenor.) at Mr Cottles High Street Bristol — he will convey it to her. & I believe next to receiving any thing from me, something for me & from my friend will be the most agreable occurrence during my absence. I give you this direction as it will be sure to reach her. Edith will be as a parlour boarder with the Miss Cottles (his sisters) two women of elegant & accomplishd manners. the eldest lived as governess in Ld Derbys³ family xxx a little while — & you will have some opinion of them when I say, that they make even bigotry amiable. they are very religious, & the eldest (who is but t twenty three) wished me to read good books — the advice came from the heart — she thinks very highly of me, but fancies me irreligious because I frequent no place of worship & indulge speculations beyond reason.

God bless & prosper God bless & prosper you — & grant I may find you as happy on my arrival, as I hope & expect to be.

yrs sincerelyRobert Southey.

Falmouth. Monday evening.

Well Grosvenor. here I am waiting only for a wind. your letter arrived a few hours before me. that to Bath came <to> Nanswhyden.

I have seen Lord Butes Chaplain, Mr Maber who goes to Madrid with us. a useful rather than an agreable companion. my heart is sick at the thought of being so long without a friend. who is it says “thou knowest not

How sharper than a serpents tooth it is

To have a faithless friend —⁴

I recollect as I write that I am altering Lear. this reflection however springs from your [MS torn] my own feelings. I did take a viper to my bosom [MS torn] to injure me was like liking the file.

thank you for your verses. a few alterations would make it an excellent ode. Edith you will see & know & love. but her virtues are of the domestic order & you will love her in proportion as you know her. I hate your daffidowndilly women — aye & men too. the violet is ungaudy in its appearance, tho a sweeter flower perfumes not the evening gale —. tis equally her wish to see you. oh Grosvenor — when I think of our winter evenings that will arrive — & then look at myself arrayed for a voyage in an inn parlour! whilst to xxx xx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx dry my eye I scarcely know whether the tear that starts into my eye proceeds from anticipated pleasure or present melancholy.

I am never comfortable at an inn. boughten hospitality are two ill-connected ideas. — Grosvenor I half shudder to think that a plank only will divide the husband of Edith from the unfathomed ocean! & did I believe its efficacy could burn a hecatomb to Neptune⁵ with as much devotion as ever burned or [MS torn] Phæacia.⁶ farewell —

Robert Southey.