2838. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 10 September [1816]

2838. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 10 September [1816]*
My dear Grosvenor
The letter which accompanies this you & Herries may do what you please with. [1] And if you still think it ne adviseable that I should hasten to London, I will obey your summons (however reluctantly) as soon as possible. I cannot think it necessary; & it would be hugely inconvenient with such tremendous arrears of business as are now upon my hands.
I have just been informed of the existence of a Club at in Keswick here, – of what description think you? – nothing less than a Club of Atheists who meet <met used to meet> twice a week at an alehouse to enjoy the pleasures of free opinion in congenial society! The mistress of the alehouse was ‘of the same way of thinking”,– – but one of the members having married the daughter of another alewife the society has split, – perhaps there may be two clubs instead of one. A Clerk of Mr Fryers [2] is president, – & some of the Crossthwates [3] (the tanners) are members.
This is in great measure the fault of our Reverend Porpoise; [4] – who if he cannot (for lack of natural gifts) do any other good as a Priest than what might be performed by a marrying & christening machine, ought at least to do his duty as a magistrate, & interfere with the public houses
RS.
10 Sept.
Notes
* Endorsements: 10 Septr. 1816; 10 Septr. 1816./ with enclosure
MS:
Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 25. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating
note: Year from endorsement.
Note on MS: the letter contained an enclosure, a
second letter to Bedford of 10 September 1816, see Letter 2839. BACK
[2] John Harrison Fryer (1777–1855), surveyor, geologist and mining engineer from Newcastle, who spent part of each year in Keswick from 1808. BACK