3688. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 May 1821⁠* 

My dear Grosvenor

First I must address you as my Chancellor of the Exchequer & First Lord, requesting that you will settle all demands for my Stewardship at the Westminster Meeting, – an office which I should not have accepted had it not been my Uncles wish that I should so do. [1]  – My next request is that when you may be near King Street, Covent Garden, you will call at N^o 24 & pay £3.10/ to Joseph Lock the shoemaker, [2]  who was born in the same street with me, & is as perfect in his way as poor Hyde, [3]  or the living Cockbaine. [4]  He is therefore worth your seeing, tell him that you are an intimate friend of mine, & set him going, & I think you will pronounce him worthy of being appointed Boot & Shoemaker to the Butler. [5] 

I think you have forgotten to order certain clothes for me from Hydes successor, of whom I could not order them myself, because I know not where he xxxx what his name is. Will you therefore, if it has not been already done, write a note to him, & desire him to send me a black coat & waistcoat, a pair of loose trousers, kerseymeer of any such mixture as may be “in vogue,” – & a pair of black loose trowsers, for dress, – this last article I add now to the former order, – but if you have already given the order it is not worth while to make the addition.

I sent Gifford yesterday the second part of an article for the QR. which will be finished I trust in the present week. It is a life of Oliver Cromwell. [6]  I hope he will not turn it over to a future number, – if he inserts it in this, he may reckon on one for the next upon Brazil & Portugal [7] 

The 25^th sheet of the Peninsular War [8]  came by this days post. I shall be glad to hear that you have obtained the clean sheets – you will find more time & satisfaction in reading them piece meal thus, than in sitting down to a formidable work as a sort of task. – You will very soon receive the story of Aguirre xx Lope de Aguirre in a little volume per se. [9] 

Cupn is well, & amuses the whole house with his dialect. I have a wicked cold. The weather is abominable, little above the freezing point by day, & below it at night. Prester John  [10]  is not yet arrived. – I have bottled some strong beer which you are to bear a part in drinking, – but if you like Worcestershire perry better, you shall have it. And you shall have toasted cheese to eat with it; & an herb pudding.

God bless you

RS

27 May. 1821