“. . . . . Look at the history of Bremhill, and you
will see Bowles’s parsonage; it is
near the fine old church, and as there are not many better livings, there are
few more pleasantly situated. The garden is ornamented in his way, with a
jet-fountain, something like a hermitage, an obelisk, a cross, and some
inscriptions. Two swans, who answer to the names of Snowdrop and Lily, have a pond to
themselves, and if they are not duly fed there at the usual time, up
| Ætat. 63. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 315 |
“Much as I had heard of Bowles’s peculiarities, I should very imperfectly have understood his character if I had not passed some little time under his roof. He has indulged his natural timidity to a degree little short of insanity, yet he sees how ridiculous it makes him, and laughs himself at follies which nevertheless he is continually repeating. He is literally afraid of every thing. His oddity, his untidyness, his simplicity, his benevolence, his fears, and his good-nature, make him one of the most entertaining and extraordinary characters I ever met with. He is in his seventy-third year, and for that age is certainly a fine old man, in full possession of all his faculties, though so afraid of being deaf, when a slight cold affects his hearing, that he puts a watch to his ear twenty times in the course of the day. Our reception was as hospitable as possible, Mrs. Bowles was as kind as himself, and every thing was done to make us comfortable. . . . .
“The Bishop, unluckily, is at Weymouth; he wrote to Bowles to say how glad he should be to see us; but he will not be in Wells till this day-week. Whether the Dean (Goodenough) is here, the people of the inn cannot tell. . . . .
“Tell your dear mother that I earnestly wish to
| 316 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 63. |
“Love to all. So good night: and God bless you!
