3722. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 31 August 1821⁠* 

Keswick 31 Aug. 1821.

My dear Grosvenor

I am interrupted by a disturbance in the Lower Regions. – –

x x x x x

It was not an Earthquake which thus broke off my letter at the very commencement, neither had Kehama [1]  slipt his shoulders from their burden, left Yamen & xxxx upon a three legged throne to fall xx or sit if he could, & made a reveller in Padalon. No Grosvenor it was no such particular event. I was not cut short, – but taken short, being væ mihi [2] ! in the second day of the Grouwels, which word properly signifies abomination in Dutch. [3]  I believe the extreme heat of last week, & the sudden change (the glass falling 28 degrees in 36 hours) have brought on some derangement of the bile xxxx xxxxxxxx bile. Yesterday I left it to take its course; – to day I made a wry face & swallowed rhubarb & if the Tripes continue <tomorrow to be like certain poets> melodious & fluent <& weak>, why I shall desire Edmondson to proceed against them.

That ever I should be worth 625£ in the three per cents! [4]  Thank you for the trouble you have taken. When you receive the dividend, you may buy in another 50 therewith.

While I was at Netherhall Nares left a card here, with some complimentary verses on the back. My Aunt saw him, & showed him this room, – where he looked at the books & pictures, & admired my habitat & the comforts which were are collected about me. His London address was is written upon his card, so that I am bound to a return of this civility when next I visit town.

I do not take John Bull, [5]  & for these reasons: 1 Because Calvert & I take the Guardian. [6]  2 Because I-per-se-I (if that compound is not as mongrel in person as in language) take the Westmorland Gazette, [7]  as it becomes me to do; 3 Because I hate slander, & would have all newspapers that deal in slander suppressed, if that were possible.

To day I have compleated my laborious correction, or more strictly speaking amplification of the first vol: of Brazil, [8]  on which as much work has been bestowed as would in another shape have been worth 200£, & here it will not produce me one farthing.

Health to your best-for-nothing-Cat. Alas we are catless & kittenless!

Senhouse gave me on my birth day a bottle of Tokay [9]  curious for its history. It was sent to his father [10]  about forty years ago by Baron Corry [11]  (a relation of Isaac Corrys) from Dantzick, he had received it as a present from Stanislaus King of Poland [12]  (whose seal was on the cork) – & Stanislaus had it from the Emperor Joseph. [13]  And in this Baronial-Royal & Imperial Tokay, the healths of the King & his Poet were drunk. – There is a flavour of melancholy about all this which makes it worth remembering.

I am more than sorry that you give up the thought of seeing Skiddaw this year, – & that Henry is out of order. The journey would do him good.

God bless you

RS.