19. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [c. 31 July 1792]*

To St Peter the Hermit¹

the humble petition of the books of Gualbertus²

Shewing that after having been long from post to pillar tostYour poor petitioners are in great danger of being lostLeft alone among wicked men & great wigs — without a masterFor he poor soul ran a race with reason & unfortunately ran faster —But alas needs that wretch must go whom the Devil or the Doctor drivesAnd he would have been killed if like a cat he had had nine livesBut we beg that out of pity & of charity dear Peter you would lookAnd consider Gibbon³ & your old friend the flogging book⁴ And afford us a sheltering place to rest our wearied headTill he in a short time shall rise again from the deadFor in two months time his mortal part will repair as you know to OxonAnd then you may send us to him & put a direction the box onAnd we beg desire & intreat you will receive us without delayAnd your poor petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.

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& more over

seriously Bedford my poor books are grievously distressed as Lamb who took care of them leaves school next Thursday. presuming that you will offer them an asylum till they can immediately be sent to me at Oxford I have wrote by this post to desire he will deliver them up to you. as Gibbon is of the number I hope the pleasure you will receive in reading it will amply recompense the trouble.

they would cost a great deal in carriage first to Bath then to Bristol & then to Oxford & I am certain you will give them houseroom.

now then I must say your neglect is very unpardonable. a whole month has elapsed since I have heard from you & I verily believe that if I did not occasionally rub up your memory you would forget that such a person ever existed as

Robert Southey.

when I hear from you again I will write & if I can trust myself not till then for your laziness is too bad. remember me to your brother.