611. Robert Southey to Charles Biddlecombe, 6 October 1801*
Oct. 6. 1801. Keswick
My dear friend
I was absent, wandering in Wales when your letter arrived, & am on my return so hastily hurried away, that barely time is left me to reply to the business it contained.
About the beds my Mother knows best & she will determine. the drawers are to be sold – the books could not go in them, & will travel safer in boxes. once more let me apologize for the trouble given you. it does not sit easy on my conscience.
Tomorrow I depart for Dublin. you may suppose that it will be no small comfort to shake hands with Rickman in a strange land. I will write from thence at my first leisure & send you a direction. Mrs S.s remembrance. mine also to your good mother1 & Mr Coleman.2
yrs very truly R Southey
What money remains after you have paid yourself – & my little bill to Quartley3 – remit my Mother under cover to Mr Danvers – Kingsdown. Bristol.
Notes
Address: To/ Charles Biddlecombe Esqr/ Burton/ Ringwood/
Single
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ OCT 9/ 1801
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public
Library. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. Back
1. The first name and dates of Mrs Biddlecombe are unrecorded. Back
2. Unidentified; probably an acquaintance of Southey from his residence at Burton, 1797 and 1799. Back
3. Dr Quartley (first name and dates unknown), the medical practitioner at Christchurch. Back