504. Robert Southey to George Dyer, 27 March 1800*

My dear Dyer

I am sorry my boxes should so long have encumbered you. a friend of mine by name Rickman who is speedily coming to London will call at your rooms & inspect them to see if they are safe from worms, & if you find them inconvenient, will remove them. I would not have them taken out they are mingled with linen – letters &c &c –, & to disorganize the arrangement would be doing mischief. you will be pleased with Rickman. He is a singular man, of uncommon talents, whom I greatly esteem.

Thank you for the subscribers.¹ of course the Booksellers must have them at their own price. my plan is to raise an annuity by the subscription – profits – & any exertion to increase [MS torn] the list I feel as a personal favour. we have now about 240 copies subscribed for.

Your Democritus Junior I have thankfully reprinted.² it is a good poem. your sonnet was printed & cancelled because – it was no sonnet – being sixteen lines long. in the course of next week the [MS torn] Anthologies will be sent to London.

Let me hear from you when I am in a foreign land. my direction will be with the Reverend Herbert Hill. <Lisbon.> my friends must not forget me – & I will not forget them.

God bless you. yrs affectionately Robert Southey

If you pass thro Gracechurch Street – be good enough to call on Arch³ the bookseller. & tell him I shall have an opportunity of sending him the 2£-5- which I owe him, by a friend, before my departure. I shall not remain here more than a fortnight.

Stokes Croft. Bristol. March 27. 1800