1788. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 June 1810

1788. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 June 1810 *
Keswick. June 27. 1810.
My dear Grosvenor
This evening there came a letter franked by that noble franker the first Lord, [1] – I opened it eagerly thinking to have certain tidings of your movements, & behold it contained nothing except a blank stamp, – not a receipt as usual, but a mere stamp, so that why it came, or what it is for, unless you can inform me I am likely never to know.
Will you contrive to have the sum of £3– 5s/ paid for me to Mr George Ridout [2] in Paternoster Row, – his father is a surgeon I believe, [3] – but the Row is not very long, & is probably one of those places in which the inhabitants know who <are> their neighbours. I owe him this money for some books which he purchased for me in Spain, whither he went with Jacob the M.P. [4] whom Whitbread [5] cross-examined in his character for of Council for Buonaparte. [6] & as I have no acquaintance with Ridout, & really feel much indebted to him for his xxx civility; I shall <be glad> to have the money part of the obligation settled as soon as convenient. You will not for a moment suppose that I am wishing you, an invalid, to perform this commission in any other way, than by sending him the money in a note, & requesting, if he be not at home when the messenger arrives, that he would acknowledge it by the twopenny post. Will you also let Miss Betham know that you are coming hither, – Colonel Peachy has left some little trinket for Edith in her hands, – as a memorial of his wife.
My cruel summer cold has taken up the quarters with me as usual, & my eyes & nose are suffering severely. I look anxiously for a line for you that I may secure your lodgings –
God bless you Grosvenor
Yrs very affectionately
Robert Southey
Notes
* Address: To/ G. C. Bedford Esqr/ Stafford Row/ Buckingham Gate/
London./ Single
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 30 JUN 30/ 1810
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c.
24. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished. BACK
[1] Spencer Perceval, Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. BACK
[3] John Gibbs Ridout (1758–1823), London apothecary. He had previously given medical advice to Coleridge. BACK