1839. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 14 December 1810 ⁠* 

Keswick Dec 14. 1810

My dear Grosvenor

Since Wednesday last I had been looking with a good deal of anxiety for news of you. This is no very p pleasing letter that has arrived, – it is however a good thing that you are at your journeys end, & I think the Doctors will not insist upon your late mode of living when they see its affects.

Douglas [1]  has been here & regretted very much not having seen you. He is just married & brought his bride a run from Kelso to Keswick, where I dined with them one day, & they with me another. It is many years since we had met, & I was very much pleased with his frank & xxx winning manners, as indeed we all were.

Tom & his wife departed this morning for Durham, having spent the last fortnight with us. She wins upon one very much, – & I was sorry to part with her. Tom I miss very much. I am now left wholly to myself – & must begin my usual hybernation.

I reckoned upon assets in your hands, & have told Rickman that you will pay him for my stock of shoes, & Wynn that you will settle t with him for some books from a Catalogue, of which he sent me two sheets, & received in return a commission for some of the articles. [2]  I wish they he may not delay it till they slip thro his fingers, but there was no clue to the booksellers name & I had no other means of sending for them. As you have sent the half bills, these things with the accommodation for the humdurgeon &c must stand over for the next Exchequer account.

Keswick is in a great ferment in consequence of the failure of one of the Workington Banks. [3]  You know there is nothing but Workington paper circulating here – Luckily all that we had was of the other Bank. [4] 

The great coat made his appearance before the letter from Manchester & I would have given a good deal to have been extracted some account of his travels from him. – Farewell. The Moon is set – the wind is playing a dismal xxx duet with the rain, & I who have the happiest spirits in the world, have not am a little below par in them at present. The sight of a chaise driving from the door, is a sedative for the day. – Remember me to your father & mother & the Master of the Rolls & tell me better news of yourself

Yours ever affectionately

RS.

We have never received a line from Coleridge since he went away. [5]