The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 28 July 1806
“For many days I have looked for a letter from
you,—the three lines announcing your arrival in England being all which
have yet reached me. Yes-![]()
| Ætat. 32. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 49 |
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terday the Dr. and I returned home after a five
days’ absence, and I was disappointed at finding no tidings of you. We
were two days at Lloyd’s; and have
had three days’ mountaineering,—one on the way there, two on our
return,—through the wildest parts of this wild country, many times
wishing you had been with us. One day we lost our way upon the mountains, got
upon a summit where there were precipices before us, and found a way down
through a fissure, like three sides of a chimney, where we could reach from
side to side, and help ourselves with our hands. This chimney-way was
considerably higher than any house, and then we had an hour’s descent
afterwards over loose stones. Yesterday we mounted Great Gabel,—one of
the highest mountains in the country,—and had a magnificent view of the
Isle of Man, rising out of a sea of light, for the water lay like a sheet of
silver. This was a digression from our straight road, and exceedingly fatiguing
it was; however, after we got down we drank five quarts of milk between us, and
got home as fresh as larks after a walk of eleven hours. You will find it
harder service than walking the deck when you come here.
“Our landlord,
who lives in the house adjoining us, has a boat, which is as much at our
service as if it were our own;—of this we have voted you
commander-in-chief whenever you shall arrive. The lake is about four miles in
length, and something between one and two in breadth. However tired you may be
of the salt water, I do not think you will have the same objection to fresh
when you see this beautiful basin, clear as crystal, and shut in by mountains
on ![]()
| 50 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 32. |
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every side except one opening to the N. W. We are very
frequently upon it; Harry and I being
both tolerably good boatmen; and sometimes we sit in state and the women row
us—a way of manning a boat which will amuse you. The only family with
which we are on familiar terms, live, during the summer and autumn, on a little
island here—one of the loveliest spots in this wide world. They have one
long room, looking on the lake from three windows, affording the most beautiful
views; and in that room you may have as much music, dancing, shuttle-cocking,
&c. as your heart can desire. They generally embargo us on our water
expeditions. I know not whether you like dining under a tree, as well as with
the conveniences of chairs and table and a roof over your head—which I
confess please me better than a seat upon any moss however cushiony, and in any
shade however romantic; if, however, you do, here are some delightful bays at
the head of the lake, in any of which we may land; and if you love fishing, you
may catch perch enough on the way for the boat’s company, and perhaps a
jack or two into the bargain.
“One main advantage which this country possesses over
Wales is, that there are no long tracks of desolation to cross between one
beautiful spot and another. We are sixteen miles only from Winandermere, and
three other lakes are on the way to it. Sixteen only from Wastwater, as many
from Ulswater, nine from Buttermere and Crummock. Lloyd expects you will give him a few days—a few they
must be; for though I shall be with you, we will not spare you long from ![]()
| Ætat. 32. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 51 |
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home;—but his house stands delightfully, and puts a
large part of the finest scenery within our reach. You will find him very
friendly, and will like his wife
much:—she is a great favourite with me. The Bishop of Llandaff lives near them, to whom I have lately been
introduced. God bless you!
William Jackson (d. 1809)
A retired carrier, he was the builder of Greta Hall and landlord of Coleridge and
Southey. Coleridged described him as “a truly good and affectionate man, a father to my
children, and a friend to me.”
Charles Lloyd (1775-1839)
Quaker poet; a disciple of Coleridge and friend of Charles Lamb, he published
Poetical Essays on the Character of Pope (1821) and other
volumes.
Sophia Lloyd [née Pemberton] (d. 1830)
The wife of the poet Charles Lloyd, with whom she eloped in 1799; they lived at Old
Brathay, near Ambleside in the Lake District.
Henry Herbert Southey (1783-1865)
The younger brother of Robert Southey; educated at Edinburgh University, he was physician
to George IV, Gresham Professor of Medicine, and friend of Sir Walter Scott.
Thomas Southey (1777-1838)
The younger brother of Robert Southey; he was a naval captain (1811) and afterwards a
Customs officer. He published
A Chronological History of the West
Indies (1828).
Richard Watson, bishop of Llandaff (1737-1816)
Regius Professor of Divinity, Trinity College, Cambridge and bishop of Llandaff (1782);
he published
Apology for Christianity (1776) in response to Gibbon,
and
Apology for the Bible (1796) in response to Paine.
