3631. Robert Southey to Edward Hill, 11 February 1821⁠* 

My dear Edward

It gave me very great pleasure to receive a letter from you, – to hear than you are placed in the upper fourth, [1]  (which, judging from your age, is higher than I had expected) – that you are in the room with the head of the house, (which is a great advantage in point of comfort,) & that you have so kind a friend in my good friend M^r Knox, [2]  who could not oblige me more than by his kindness to you. Three & thirty years have passed since I was in that form where you are now, & I perceive by your letter that the school (like every thing else) has undergone some changes during that time. Three & thirty years hence, Edward, when thro the mercy of God I shall be in a better world, you I hope may look back upon Westminster with as much satisfaction as I do now, for the advantages which I have derived from being there.

You enquire for your old acquaintance Skiddaw, [3]  whom I am pleased to find you have not forgotten. But Skiddaw is no longer in existence. Perhaps you may have heard of M^r Telford the great Engineer, who will be known hereafter for having proposed made the three greatest works in this island, – to wit, – the Caledonian Canal by which frigates can pass thro the Island from sea to sea (the greatest work of inland navigation in the world) the Pontcy-syllti Aquaduct which carries a canal over the river Dee, at the height of 100 feet above the bed of the river, & the hanging-bridge over the arm of the sea which separates Anglesea from Wales. [4] – What has M^r Telford to do here, you are ready to ask: & you may will probably be surprized to hear that among his other works he – removed Skiddaw. When I was travelling with him & M^r Rickman in Scotland, [5]  the old mountain became a volcano, & discharged its contents. M^r Telford with great kindness & good nature, attended to it night & morning, & at the end of our journey not a trace of it remained upon the place where it had stood.

Give my love to your Mother, & Alfred, & the little ones when you go home on Saturday, – I wish I were near enough to see them oftener. And remember me to Herbert & Errol when you write to them: I shall be anxious to hear the news from Bristol, – & that your father is returned. Remember that I shall be glad to hear from you as well as of you, from time to time; the correspondence which is now begun between us, will last, it is to be hoped, as long as I live. Your Welsh neices & nephew [6]  are all well, & live in hope of seeing you here when you are a few years older

God bless you my dear Edward,

Your affectionate cousin

[MS missing]

Keswick. 11 Feb^y. 1821

When next you write tell me the name of your boarding-house, it was called Clapham’s in my time, but that name must long since have been obsolete. [7]