3172. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 July 1818⁠* 

Keswick 25 July. 1818

My dear G.

Thank you for the half notes.

If the fire will not tempt you to Keswick let the water tempt you & the Mag: Rot. This day Tom & I were in the Newlands beck. [1]  O Grosvenor! I thought of you there, & the other unhappy persons who have nothing better than Thames water in a hot day. Do you remember those beautiful deep baths of clear glassy water where you once bathed with me in Newlands, & those still more delightful ones which we reconnoitred after we came out of the water? It was in these latter that I played the river God this morning.

The Dogstar thinks Brougham will challenge me. [2]  He got so little credit by his challenge at Appleby that he is not likely to make a second attempt at establishing a character for courage by such means. And it must be allowed that he has some reason to think seriously of duelling, having lost a brother in one. [3]  This certainly ought to make him more cautious how he offers an insult, – but some thing in his shyness upon such occasions may fairly be xxxxxx ascribed to a consideration of his mothers feelings. [4]  Both you & Harry seem to suppose that my Letter is a defence of myself but you will see that this is not the case. I take advantage of an unprovoked attack to expose him thoroughly, & this will have a considerable effect upon not upon his friends, but upon those who have yet their part to chuse, or who are disgusted with his conduct, & would be glad to have such an exposure to appeal to. I care not how much is pruned away, it is better to write as one feels, & prune afterwards. The strength of the pamphlett will lie in a statement of the calumnies {of} which he has been convicted in the H. C. & a view of the E Review [5]  – politics as contrasted with the events.

God bless you. A rainy evening makes it dark almost an hour before its time.

RS.