2249. Robert Southey to John Rickman, [mid-late April 1813]

2249. Robert Southey to John Rickman, [mid-late April 1813] ⁠* 

My dear R.

This packet for Miss Betham consists of papers upon the Bombay Marine [1]  which her brother [2]  sent me; they were written first with a view to be that they might be of use to me, – & in the course of writing a desire of publishing them arose, – from this I have dissuaded the him strongly. For the main drift of the is to show that our navy officers behave with great insolence to the Companys marine, – & that there is a hearty contempt on one side – which is returned very naturally, & somewhat more properly, with as hearty a hatred on the other. This you see is one of those things upon which the least that is said the better.

George Fricker is here, – & will never go hence. He is far gone in consumption. [3] 

RS.

Notes

* Address: To/ J Rickman Esqre
Endorsement: Fr./ RS./ April 1813
MS: Huntington Library, RS 205. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: The content of this letter suggests a date in mid-late April 1813. BACK

[1] The navy maintained by the East India Company. In 1830 it was renamed the Indian Navy. BACK

[2] Captain John Betham (1787–1835), who served in the Bombay Marine and published the Trial of Captain John Betham (1829), which detailed his dismissal from the service after an argument over the quality of the biscuits his ship was provided with. BACK

[3] George Fricker died at Greta Hall on 24 June 1813; see Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 28 June 1813, Letter 2274. BACK

Addressee

Rickman, John (1771–1840)

People mentioned

Betham, (Mary) Matilda (1776–1852) (mentioned 1 time)
Fricker, George (1785–1813) (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Four
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