870. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 14 December [1803]

870. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 14 December [1803] ⁠* 

To compleat the wretched history of Edward it seems he & his Aunt have been actually juggling together how to make me supply him with money & get him into the army. supposing that I should the more readily exert myself if made to believe that he had quarrelled with her. I learn by his last letter that she continues to write to him – & he directs his letters to her at Bristol – where there is correspondence then is not much quarrel there – & he says she has sent him no money – thus letting the cat out of the bag. As if to prevent all possibility of his return to the navy, she has sold his uniforms to a travelling Jew. – Considering all these things & that it was impossible either to recommend him to any Captain myself, or expect any friend to do it after his conduct at Exeter, I have written to tell him that he & his Aunt may settle this matter how they please, for I will have nothing whatsoever to do with him till he has [MS obscured] thorough alteration of conduct. his letters & those of his creditors have already cost me [MS obscured]ence in postage.

God bless you. RS.

Wednesday. Dec. 14.

Notes

* Address: [partial] Lieutenant Southey/ H. M. S. Galatea [MS missing]
Postmark: [partial] 03
MS: British Library, Add MS 47890. ALS; 2p.
Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 344-345 [published as one letter with that to Thomas Southey of [9-] 10 December 1803]. BACK

People mentioned

Tyler, Elizabeth (1739–1821) (mentioned 2 times)
Southey, Edward (1788–1847) (mentioned 1 time)