3054. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 22 December 1817⁠* 

Pessime! [1] 

I have been in a cold sweat whenever I thought of my books from Milan ever since you returned to London, – – & behold Nash had not been in town four & twenty hours before he discovered that they were arrived. Pessime! Vile Bedford! Wicked Bedford! Abominable Bedford!

The box it seems came with one for Colnaghi, [2]  & has been taken charge of by Prince Esterhazys [3]  agent, whoever this may be. but Colnaghi was obliged to deposit 20£ as security to enable him to get it away. The rationale of this you will find out; & now I beseech you get the box lodged for me at Longmans as soon as possible.

When it is there Nash will take out his concerns which are one or two prints, a Life of Leonardo da Vinci [4]  & a Milan Guide. Certain books must be taken out & bound for me, according to a list which I will make out on the other leaf, & I shall be obliged to Longman to forward to me all the rest by waggon without delay, there being some among them which will come into immediate use. – You may direct the manner of binding those in the list, – they should be exceedingly well done, so as to mark them for things of value when they come to be xx books of the late R.S. The three Italians who are to be put in one dress are the three best poets whom Italy has produced during the last two centuries. [5] 

There are books in this box which will enable me to make my journal [6]  what I should <wish> to make to xxx it.

There is one Spanish volume in foolscap quarto entitled Milicia de las Indias. [7]  If you are present when the box is opened, be pleased upon seeing this book, to go upon your knees, & make your prostrations before it, as if it were the veritable Emperor of China, that said book being of more intrinsic worth than all Emperors of China past, present, or to come collectively. There is one volume with 100 Swiss views – bad enough, but still good for recollection. [8]  And there are about 53 loose prints of Italian scenery upon the Lakes, & of the Cathedral of Milan.

Oh how glad I am they are come. – Now pray lose no time in settling matters with Colnaghi, & getting them to Longmans, that they may be dispatched for Keswick quam citissime. [9]  It is more than an even chance that Bertolacci [10]  may set me upon a Rabbinical poem as long as Thalaba. [11] 

It is very likely the books from Brussels may be come also, [12]  pray enquire about them: – these must wait in London till the season be safer for water conveyance, when M^r Vardon will give them a passage to Newcastle.

God bless you

RS.

22 Dec. 1817.

Ramusio. 3 folio. to be well bound in Russia. [13] 

<Maggi – 4 vol. 12 mo

<Chiabrera – 5 – D^o

<Filicaja 2 – D^o – uniform & very neat

Pietro della Valle. 3 vol 12mo. very neat. [14] 

Africa Petrarche – D^o [15] 

Ruggiero in Sicilia – D^o [16]