3481. Robert Southey to Edith Southey, 12 [May 1820]⁠* 

My dear Edith

I am a little uneasy at not receiving any letter from home since that of the 30^th. Willing as the children [1]  expressed themselves to write, & with so many of them, – from one or other, or altogether, they <you> might contrive let me know once a week how you are going on. – The twenty minutes which I have to spare would have been employed in beginning a letter to Bell, if I had not been disappointed in my expectations of finding one on my return from the mornings business, & therefore put out of the spirits required for writing in that strain. You must be contented therefore with merely hearing how my time has been past. Friday last I breakfasted with Miss Wordsworth at her brothers, & dined at Marianne’s [2]  – a large party. Saturday at Harry Inglis’s where I slept. Sunday M^rs Gonnes. Monday breakfasted with Turner dined with Kenyon & met Coleridge & Derwent there. Tuesday breakfast with Henry Robinson, – walked to Wapping to see the sister [3]  of Elton Hamond, dined with the Imperial General. Wednesday breakfasted with D^r Ashburner [4]  to meet Rex & his daughter Zoe, [5]  – but they had been called off the evening before. however I met D Jardine & his wife. [6]  – then to the Levee [7]  with Wynn, then to dinner at Murraylemagnes. Thursday breakfast with D^r Wordsworth, worked all the morning in the Lambeth library, dinner with a large uncomfortable party at M^rs Vardons. This morning worked again at Lambeth, & now must dress to dine with D’Israeli.

My dinner engagements stand thus – tomorrow Rickman, – Sunday G.C.B. Monday Sir George B. Tuesday at home. Wednesday with Harrys friend M^rs Cookson [8] . Thursday M^r Butler. Friday Wilber Saturday Sunday Monday Richmond. Tuesday Courtenay. Wednesday M^r Bill. Thursday ____. Friday D Jardine, – & on Saturday if I receive the answer which I hope for from Bunbury [9]  I go for Cambridge.

At present I am heartily tired. love to the children, & do let me hear from home a little more frequently.

God bless you

RS

Friday 12^th. Q Anne Street