292. To Robert Southey Address: Mr Southey | Mr Tucker's | Forestreet Hill | Exeter Single MS. Lord Latymer. Pub. E. L. G. i. 124. Stamped: Bridgewater. Wednesday Morning [ 25 September 1799] My dear Southey -- We arrived at Stowey last evening -- & this morning poor Fanny left us. -- As neither Sara or I have as yet any symptoms of infection, I hope & trust, that you & Edith, and Eliza, are safe. -- Believe me, tho' obliged to bear up against the FRESH of my Wife's hypersuperlative Grief on the occasion, I have nevertheless suffered much anxiety lest poor Eliza or Mrs S. should have been colonized by these damn'd invisible Skin-moles -Moses [ Hartley] received the Catholic Sacrament of Unction for the first time last night -- / He was very merry during the performance, singing or chanting -- I be a funny Fellow, And my name is Brimstonello. -- I doubt not, that all will be well by tomorrow or at farthest next day -- for he slept quiet & has never once scratched himself since his Embrimstonement. --/ -- Have you seen Isaac Weld's Travels 1 -- I find them interesting --/ he makes the American appear a most degraded & vile nation. ---In one of the ecclesiastical Historians I find that the Oak which Abraham planted at Mamre, was still existing in the time of Constantine & destroyed by his orders -- a famous Mart being held there every summer, persons of all Religions, both Jews & Christians & Asiatic Gentiles in a general confluence doing honor thereto/ --/ -What a delightful subject this for an eclogue, or pastoral, or philosophical poem -- / William Taylor 2 is the man to write it -- his knowlege, his style, his all-half believing Doubtingness of all, his -- in short, I wish that you would hint it to him. -- I wish, you would make my respects to Dyer, the Bookseller 3 -& beg to know the lowest price at which he will let me have Bacon's Works, & Milton's Prose Works -- / If he mention the former at not above two guineas, I shall have it / Likewise, if he send them, to send his Catalogue -- & should he have a Copy of Taylor's Sermons, by all means to let me have them / ---- / Any parcel for me,to be addressed, Mr T. Poole, the old Angel, Bridgewater ----/ -(for Mr Coleridge.)-- / -- The money shall be payed him immediately ____________________ 1 Isaac Weld, Travels through the States of North America and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada during the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797, 1799. 2 William Taylor of Norwich ( 1765-1836), translator and literary critic, was best known for his German studies. 3 Gilbert Dyer ( 1743-1820), bookseller and antiquary of Exeter. He is not to be confused with the poet, George Dyer. -530- on my receipt of the Books, by some of my relations in Exeter. -Tell him, that if he rides any where near Nether Stowey, I hope, he will not forget my invitation, or consider it as a commonplace Compliment. -- That Dyer, whom my Brother names a dark-hearted Jacobin, is really an honest man -- & I like him. The respect to men of Genius which he payed in you in letting you have the Mambrinos, at your own price, pleased me ----/ -- This letter is not worth postage / but my Brain is dry, I having been letter writing the whole morning---- / Sara's love -- she hopes, that if Eliza was gone before Edith received her letter, that Edith has written to caution her of what has happened. I shall go on with the Mohammed 1 / tho' something I must do for pecuniary emolument / -- I think of writing a School-book. -- Let me hear from you & of your proceedings ---- Your's affectionately S. T. Coleridge