1786. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 19 June 1810 ⁠* 

Keswick. Tuesday. June 19. 1810.

My dear Harry

From Alstone to Penrith is twenty miles, & the road is now so much improved that a chaise can travel it. The distances on the other side of Alstone I do not know; but I believe that from thence to Durham is something more than forty miles. You may very well get here in the manner you propose.

Tom & his bride arrived about two hours before your letter, – he had however apprized me of his coming by a line from Penrith. The rain so long looked for is come at last & seems to be set in, – so as there is nothing to be done out of door I have invented a very ingenious amusement for Sarah within, by appointing her my amanuensis extraordinary, to make notes for Kehama. [1]  She will soon become right learned in the wisdom of the East, & tho I do not flatter myself so far as to suppose that she will ever be mistress of the whole thousand & eight names of Seeva, [2]  yet she is in a fair way of learn knowing great part of his history.

I am glad to hear you are on the way to Jerusalem, [3]  – come out of your room only at nine o clock instead of ten, – & give that hour to it, – & you will soon be surprized at your own progress. What you have done is so well, & the subject itself at once so interesting & important that I am very very anxious t you should proceed with it. The discovery of the Byzantine historians puts you in possession of the most important documents, & I have little doubt that many other works to your purpose will be found in those two libraries. You will beyond all doubt find much in De Guignes [4]  for your introduction & to weave into the main web, but there cannot possibly be any thing there essential to the narrative; – on the contrary they will what information pertinent information you <can> meet with will be of such a nature, that till the narrative has been written you would hardly know where to dispose of it, nor perhaps xxx discern its use. There are many books which I am obliged to read over again, having read them too soon.

My villainous summer cold has taken me by the nose & sadly discomposes both my pocket-handkerchiefs & my way of life. All other employments give way to those of sneezing & sniting, & I am fain to go to sleep in the middle of the day for the sake of shutting my eyes, which are else <too apt> to shed tears in pure sympathy with their old friend from the promontory. The fable of Niobe [5]  was but a type of me. I am however somewhat less annoyed to day than yesterday. My present work is arranging the Kehama notes, which I expect to send off on Thursday. Since my return I have done some little reviewing, & taken a good spell at the second volume of my history. [6] 

How is Mary? she seemed poorly when we left her, & Tom’s account does not imply that she was better at the time of what you call his execution. Return her two kisses which I have duly received from Moon, & Bertha Bruin, – relations to whom I hope to introduce you very speedily, – & Mary also in September. – I want some half-guinea subscriptions begged for a book, – more Remains [7]  & of a poor fellow not less interesting than Kirk White, – tho he has xx no chance for want of sufficient unction of becoming equally popular. However I shall write to Mary herself a history of him & his Remains, & why the half-guineas are wanted, & if she & my letter go begging together, I [MS missing] they will not often meet with a refusal.

I beg you will tell M^rs Reid [8]  that my daughter likes her better than any body else whom she saw at Durham. Remember us to all that family, & mi in specialiter [9]  xx to M^rs Croft. [10]  I take a liking to old Ladies sometimes, holding them like many other things to be either perfectly unendurable, or very good indeed. – Ax since our return I have ascertained both gravel & ascarides [11]  in Edith May – & I am afraid there is yet something else to be discovered, to account for her disturbed sleep & the sudden pains she felt feels about the urinary passages. When I have talked with Edmundson it is my intention to write about her to Carlisle & to King. I have given her soda as you advised.

Edith & Sarah both desire their love – God bless you

RS.