3132. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 9 May 1818

3132. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 9 May 1818⁠* 

My dear G.

When you see Nash compel him to receive payment for certain frames, & some drawing paper, & watch-mending – which altogether may amount to between 15 & 20 £, – & N.B. that the frame for Westalls view from Saddle-back be included in the account. [1] 

I should be truly glad to hear that these long looked for books [2]  were fairly lodged in the Row. Thither they must go, & I will send up directions concerning them. the Acta [3]  need lettering, & perhaps a little conservative assistance aid from the bookbinder; & there are a few books which I purchased for John May. But when once they are in the Row, I will desire Nash to look to all this, because he will know the few which belong to Senhouse, & I shall {have no} need to give you no farther trouble than that of discharging the freight & other expences, which Rothschild [4]  may have paid. I am so much obliged to this personage, that if he were not so great a personage I should feel “unpleasant as a Gentleman” till I could find {obtain} an opportunity of expressing my thanks.

Tell Osiris that the carpet is arrived, & that we like it much. His & your old friend the ipsissimus John Cockbaine [5]  was here on Thursday, with three aides-des camp to make it.

What is become of the Q.R? [6] 

I have two proofs by this post, – one of Brazil, one of Wesley, [7]  – judge whether there is work enough on my hands. Tomorrow or next day I shall send you a second portion of MS. of the latter. It reads well in the proofs.

We are not so forward in the season as you are. The cold weather continued with us till Monday 27th. it left you on the 25th. Every thing is now opening into life & beauty, & there is a great promise of – gooseberries, – the only crop in which I have any direct interest.

Remember my bill to Hyde [8]  when you go that way.

God bless you

RS.

9th May. Keswick.

Notes

* Endorsements: 9 May 1818; 9 May 1818/ from R.S.
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. d. 47. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] Westall’s ‘Keswick Lake, from Saddleback’. An aquatint engraving from this painting was included in Views of the Lake and of the Vale of Keswick (1820). BACK

[2] A consignment of books that Southey had bought in Brussels in 1817. BACK

[3] Acta Sanctorum (1643–1794), a 53–volume compendium of hagiographies; it was no. 207 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. BACK

[4] Southey had recruited the banker Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836; DNB) to help with the transit of his books. BACK

[5] ‘The man himself’: John Cockbain (1786–1873), Keswick draper and tailor. BACK

[6] Quarterly Review, 18 (January 1818) was not published until 9 June 1818. BACK

[7] The third and final volume of Southey’s History of Brazil (1810–1819) and The Life of Wesley; and the Rise and Progress of Methodism (1820). BACK

[8] Hyde (d. 1820) was Southey’s London tailor. BACK

Addressee

Bedford, Grosvenor Charles (1773–1839)

People mentioned

Nash, Edward (1778–1821) (mentioned 2 times)
Westall, William (1781–1850) (mentioned 1 time)
May, John (1775–1856) (mentioned 1 time)
Senhouse, Humphrey (1773–1842), of Netherhall (mentioned 1 time)
Southey, Henry Herbert (1784–1865) (mentioned 1 time)

Places mentioned

Paternoster Row, London (mentioned 2 times)
Keswick (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Five
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