380. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 12 February 1799*

My dear Tom

My Mother has been telling me a long story about Capt Hawker,¹ which she has I find written to you about. I take half to be Hawkers lies & half my Aunts. the crime he accuses you of is defending Charles Fox² – stript of all ornament the story comes to this. My Mother will I believe never know any of her children well enough to seperate truth from falshood in the gossiping about them.

I did not send my Letters before the Poems³ – to save expence. both are now printed, & the first copies that are put together shall be shippd for you. Owing to the continuance of indisposition I have omitted keeping this term – & so avoided a cold & weary journey, & saved the expence of it – no unimportant consideration this last – particularly as I have an Apothecarys bill running up.

You shall not again be so long without hearing from me. you know that many employments allow me but little leisure – & now my two books are done – I have more work. the business of Chatterton of which you have heard me speak is now to be brought forward.⁴ I hope to do much for the family. your name will be on the subscription list⁵ – & you will have a valuable book added to your floating library.

Mrs Coleridge has buried her child, & is now with the other little boy at Martinhall.⁶ Edward was with xxxx us about ten days. the boy has strong genius – but he has been miserably managed. I kept him a little under – however he is very desirous of coming again. My Mother is again in the Green, where I suppose the usual topic of discourse to entertain her is your disaffection – & my unhappy principles – “for I always said” adds my Aunt “that Robert would be the ruin of all his brothers!”

The Income Bill has taken place – & in fourteen days I must give in a statement of my affairs.⁷ Well – well – the faster we go, the sooner we shall reach the end of the journey.

I hope none of these jack-ass praters will get at your Uncle – let them bray as they please elsewhere.

We have been buried in the snow & delayed with the thaw. all our bottles & jugs burst with the frost – & if I had been corked & put out at night I might have burst too. News we have none. the loss of the Ambuscad as you may suppose excited much surprize.⁸ peace is more necessary & more distant than ever – I look on at what passes in this world, silently, but not without emotion, nor without hope. Lisbon is I think in serious danger. if so my Uncle may be expected in England: I do not think the French can possibly be fools enough to spare it longer. that port taken, the Mediterranean is again theirs, & Egypt safe. Nelson⁹ has had better poets than the other Admirals to celebrate him. but he will not have a place in my Kalendar.¹⁰

God bless you. I write from Cottles & am hastening home. yrs affectionately R Southey.

Feby. 12. 99.

When do you pass? if in May we shall meet.