829. Robert Southey to William Taylor, 24 August [1803]*
My dear friend
This will arrive in time to change the direction of the next Iris.1 we hope to leave Bristol on Friday morning for Keswick. my poor child was buried yesterday, & we are quitting a place where every thing reminds us of the loss. poor Edith is almost heartbroken. the disease with was hydrocephalos with teething – I have gone thro more suffering than I ever before experienced – for I was fond of her even to foolishness – direct to me with Coleridge, Greeta Hall, Keswick.
I have heard nothing of Harry for many months. I expected he would have acknowledged the receipt of Amadis.2 tell him Edward is gone to sea.
God bless you. R Southey.
Wednesday Aug. 24.
Notes
Address: To/ Mr Wm Taylor Junr/ Surrey Street/ Norwich
Postmarks: BRISTOL/ AUG 24 1803; B/ AUG 25/ 1803
Watermark: J LLOYD & CO
MS: Berg
Collection, New York Public Library. ALS; 2p.
Previously published: J. W. Robberds (ed.), A Memoir of the Life and Writings of the
Late William Taylor of Norwich, 2 vols (London, 1843), I, pp. 468-469 [in part]. Back
1. The Norwich newspaper that Taylor was editing. Back
2. Southey’s translation of Amadis of Gaul (1803). Back