“My foot is going on as well as possible, and will, according to all appearances, be completely healed in the course of three or four days. Having begun with this statement, pour votre tranquillité as the aubergists at Besançon said at every word, I have next to tell you that I am quartered at Mr. Bilderdijk’s, where every imaginable care is taken of me, and every possible kindness shown, and where I have all the comforts which Leyden can afford.
“How I came here you are now to learn. Upon applying to
Mr. B. to procure a lodging for
Henry Taylor and myself, he told me
there was a difficulty in doing it, gave a bad account of Leyden lodgings, and
proposed that we should both go to his house. Such an offer was not lightly to
be accepted. Henry Taylor made inquiries himself, and
looked at lodgings which would have contented us; but when he was
| Ætat. 51. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 217 |
“You may imagine how curious I was to see the lady of the house*, and yet I did not see her when we first met, owing to the shade of the trees and the imperfectness of my sight. She was kind and cordial, speaking English remarkably well, with very little hesitation and without any foreign accent. The first night was not well managed; a supper had been prepared, which came so late, and lasted so long by the slowness which seems to characterise all operations in this country, that I did not get to bed till one o’clock. My bedroom is on the ground floor, adjoining the sitting-room in which we eat, and which is given up to me. Every thing was perfectly comfortable and nice. I asked for my milk at breakfast†, and when Mr. Droesa, the surgeon, came in the morning, I had the satisfaction of hearing that he should
* She was not less curious to see him, and, on Mr. Bilderdijk’s return from the hotel, eagerly inquired “how he looked;” to which the reply was given that “he looked as Mr. Southey ought to look:” a description which delighted my father exceedingly. † A bason of hot milk was for many years my father’s substitute for tea or coffee at breakfast. |
| 218 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 51. |
“You will now expect to hear something of the
establishment into which I have been thus, unluckily shall I say, or luckily,
introduced. The house is a good one, in a cheerful street, with a row of trees
and a canal in front; large, and with every thing good and comfortable about
it. The only child, Lodowijk Willem, is
at home, Mr. Bilderdijk being as little
fond of schools as I am. The boy has a peculiar and to me an interesting
countenance. He is evidently of a weak constitution; his dress neat but formal,
and his behaviour towards me amusing from his extreme politeness, and the
evident pleasure with which he receives any attempt on my part to address him,
or any notice that I take of him at table. A young vrouw
waits at table. I wish you could see her, for she is a much odder figure than
| Ætat. 51. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 219 |
|
* A Portuguese servant. † Dr. Bell spoke with a strong Scotch accent. |
| 220 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 51. |
“Friday morning.—My foot continues to mend, and proceeds as well as possible towards recovery. I can now, with the help of a stick, walk from room to room. My time passes very pleasantly. A more remarkable or interesting a person, indeed, than my host it was never my fortune to meet with; and Mrs. Bilderdijk is not less so. I shall have a great deal to talk about on my return. Early next week I hope to be at liberty; and I may travel the better because we move here by trekschuits, so that the leg may be kept up. Now do not you vex yourself for an evil which is passed, and which has led to very pleasant consequences. Once more God bless you!
