653. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, [28 January 1802]*

Thursday.My dear Danvers

I did not receive your letter till yesterday evening. to George I shall immediately write, advising him, unless any situation quite to his liking should occur, to ship himself for Bristol. poor fellow – I will do what I can for him, but God knows my power is not much & I see no end to embarrassment after embarrassment. the first & most promising scheme is to tow him after that good ship the Rickman. he can certainly do the business of a comms. accomptant in a public office, & Rickman will assuredly have the inclination to serve him. If that fails (for the papers speak of a change in Irish administration)¹ we must either apprentice him, or look out some clerks place. It was a rare fortune that gave me this years salary from Corry. else I know not how I could have weathered it. with the year it will end – & I shall endeavour to get some birth abroad – Spain – Italy – Egypt – anywhere to be warm. I am sorry now that my Uncle is leaving Portugal. he returns too late to render his relations comfortable – & perhaps I may be settled at Lisbon when he has abandoned it.

We are well lodged. Edith still ill, with the worst of all possible colds in addition to her other complaints.² Mrs Lovell much disordered by vexation. the old man³ has taken offence at my letter, which was certainly a very proper & respectful one. he has sent Robert back to his grandmothers,⁴ & seems disposed to cast him upon chance-charity. I have written to Joseph Lovell,⁵ who I suppose will put him to school, even if his other relations do nothing. I do not yet decide upon the old mans meaning as he is too angry to be understood. but if he be the scoundrel which I suspect him, he had better agree with Dr Bradford⁶ by the year, for by the Lord I will fret him into a perpetual fever. he shall spend more than the 40 £ that he allowed his sons widow & child, in saline draughts.

Coleridge must certainly work for Stuart, because Stuart bears his expences & they are by no means trifling ones. Poole is with him – in spite of his own conversation, & even his own belief, he likes London. its company suits him, & you know how he wants all the stimulants that society can afford him.

On Sunday I go to Norwich. I hope the change will benefit me – at any rate I shall be glad to see Harry – & William Taylor.

George Burnett shall have the half-crown whenever we meet. did you suppose that He would have time to buy the tickets?⁷ he was all hurry & bustle & dawdle while in London, & after all went off in a chaise – the coaches went at 6 & 1/2 past ten in the morning.

farewell God bless you – I wish May were come that I might breathe Kingsdown air again. our love to Mrs Danvers.

yrs affectionately Robert Southey

Maurices⁸ bill is more moderate than expected. thank him for me when you pay it. If no unforeseen demand come upon me I shall be able to clear off my Bristol debts in April. doubtless my mothers bill for medicine there will be sent to me – but I cannot pay all – my Uncle will do what he can I well know. God bless him – he is an excellent good man, who has all his life been drained in this way by his relations.