2981. Robert Southey to Edith Southey, 28 April 1817⁠* 

My dear Edith

I write a few lines to day – because I can find a few minutes for doing it, being now at Bedfords, on my way from H. Inglis’s to Rickmans. Money I cannot inclose, merely because it would be inconvenient to send you so large a bill as 100£. – You shall have half bills in smaller sums to that amount before I go. Nash cannot start till Tuesday the 6^th. [1]  – so that a six days will be deducted from the time I must else have remained in town on our return.

My Tender Epistle [2]  brought me a very handsome compliment from Lord Sidmouth, [3]  & Murray tells me it is spoken of in the highest terms by all whom he sees. In other quarters it will doubtless be found bitter to swallow & hard of digestion, 500 were sold yesterday morning.

I did not get to bed last night xx till after two o clock – kept up till that hour by conversation with Wilberforce Sir Thomas Acland &c – without any person having the least suspicion of the lapse of time Sir T’s <carriage had been xxxxx xxxx three hours waiting for him. It seems an age since I xxx have been in town. I go to Rickmans tomorrow, thence on Tuesday with M^r Coppendale [4]  to meet John & W^m. Coleridge – Thursday at Sir G Beaumonts – Friday with Mr Butler – Saturday xx Royal Academy [7]  – Sunday M^rs Gonne.

I am advised & urged to buy the house, [6]  – the money may be obtained without any difficulty in the common course of business. When this is fully determined I will write to Wordsworth.

And now I must go to Wynn, who is close at hand

God bless you my dear Edith

RS.

Sunday 3 o clock.