“Bedford, our summons arrived this morning, the vessel goes Tuesday, and when you receive this I shall be casting up my accounts with the fishes.
| Ætat. 21. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 259 |
“Grosvenor, you have my will, if the ship founders, or any other chance sends me to supper. All my papers are yours: part are with my mother, and part with Edith. Relic worship is founded upon human feelings, and you will value them. There is little danger of accidents, but there can be no harm in these few lines. All my letters are at your disposal; and if I be drowned, do not you be surprised if I pay you a visit; for if permitted, and if it can be done without terrifying or any ways injuring you, I certainly will do it.
“But I shall visit you in propriâ personâ in the summer.
“Would you had been with me on the 14th! ’twas a melancholy day, yet mingled with such feelings.
“You will get a letter from Madrid—write you to Lisbon. I expect to find letters there, and this expectation will form the pleasantest thought I shall experience in my journey.
“I should like to find your Musæus at Bristol on my return; if you will direct it to
Miss Fricker (heighho! Grosvenor),
at Mr. Cottle’s, High Street,
Bristol, he will convey it to her; and, I believe, next to receiving anything
from me, something for me and from my friend, will be the most agreeable
occurrence during my absence. I give you this direction as it will be sure to
reach her. Edith will be as a parlour boarder with the
Miss Cottles (his sisters), two women of elegant and
accomplished manners. The eldest lived as governess in Lord Derby’s family a little while; and
you will have some opinion of them
| 260 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 21. |
“God bless and prosper you, and grant I may find you as happy on my arrival as I hope and expect to be.
“Well, Grosvenor, here I am, waiting for a wind. Your letter
arrived a few hours before me. . . . . Edith you will see and know and love; but her virtues are
of the domestic order, and you will love her in proportion as you know her.
I hate your daffydowndilly women, aye, and men too;— the violet is
ungaudy in the appearance, though a sweeter flower perfumes not the evening
gale. ’Tis equally her wish to see you. Oh!
Grosvenor, when I think of our winter evenings
that will arrive, and then look at myself arrayed for a voyage in an inn
parlour! I scarcely know whether the tear that starts into my eye proceeds
from anticipated pleasure or present melancholy. I am never comfortable at
an inn; boughten hospitalities are two ill connected ideas.
| Ætat. 21. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 261 |
