3014. Robert Southey to Thomas Foster Barham, 21 August 1817

3014. Robert Southey to Thomas Foster Barham, 21 August 1817⁠* 

Keswick. 21 Aug. 1817

Dear Sir

I find your letter of May 29th on my return from the continent, & hope you may have learnt this cause of its remaining so long unanswered, from some public or private channel, – you will otherwise have condemned me with much apparent reason, for incivility & thanklessness. My long journey has probably deprived me of the honour which you would have done my name by your proposed dedication, but my sense of your the favour remains the same. [1]  I thank your for it, & subscribe myself Sir

with sincere respect

your obliged & faithful servant

Robert Southey.

Notes

* Address: To/ Thomas Foster Barham Esqr/ Leskinnic House/ near Penzance/ Cornwall
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Seal: red wax, design illegible
MS: Beinecke Library, GEN MSS 298, Series I, Box 1, folder 2. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] Barham did dedicate a work to Southey: Selection from Milton’s Hymn on the Nativity: Set to Music, and Dedicated to Robert Southey, Esq. Poet Laureate (1818). But this letter may refer to his earlier works, True Glory: or Religion Triumphant (1817) or The Pilgrim: a Song (1817). BACK

Addressee

Barham, Thomas Foster (1766–1844)

Places mentioned

Keswick (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Five
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