3736. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 19 October 1821
3736. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 19 October 1821*
Keswick. 19 Oct. 1821.
My dear Grosvenor
My poor castaway brother is ill, – very probably I think consumptive. Pray send the Doctor ten pounds for his immediate use; from him I shall hear the state of the case, & will provide farther aid as necessity may require.
Your last letter was not in a good tone of spirits, & it is a good while since I have heard from you. – Remember that a letter from you when it implies all well, is one of my best cordials.
Tell me whether in the Hist. of the Pen: War Chapt 2. I have mentioned the story of an egg with an certain letters upon the shell, & whether in the text, or in a note: it ought to be in the account of the Sebastianists pp.134 – 8. Let me know this as soon as you can because I have reason to refer to it in the chapter which I am now writing. [1]
I wish you were with us to enjoy the last sunshine & temperate part of the year. Your god son would win your heart, as he does every body’s who knows him. And Edith sketches with so accurate an eye & ready a hand, that I should now desire no better companion upon a journey, to use the pencil while I was busy with the pen.
God bless you. My love to Henry & Miss Page.
RS.
Notes
* Address: To/ G.C. Bedford Esqre/ Exchequer/ Westminster
Stamped: KESWICK/298
Postmark: E/ 22 OC 22/1821
MS: Keswick
Museum and Art Gallery, KESMG 1996.5.116. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK
[1] Southey’s History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 138, 535. The first egg was laid in Lisbon in April 1808 bearing the initials ‘V.D.S.R.P.’, as a sign of resistance to the French occupation and the imminent return of Sebastian I (1554–1578; King of Portugal 1557–1578); the second was laid in August 1808, bearing an announcement of the imminent defeat of the French. BACK