The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to John Rickman, 7 December 1836
“Linton, Dec. 7. 1836.
“My dear R.,
After a course as erratic as that of a comet which has been
driven out of its way (if comets are liable to such accidents), here we are, in
certainly the most beautiful spot in the West of England. I was here in 1799,
alone, and on foot. At that time the country between Porlock and Ilfracombe was
not practicable for wheel carriages, and the inn at Linton received all
travellers in the kitchen. Instead of that single public house, there are now
several hotels, and in its accommodation, and in the number of good houses
which have been erected by settlers, Linton vies with any watering place in
Devonshire.
“We were within a few miles of this place a fortnight
ago, when Poole parted with us at
Holnicot, Sir T. Acland’s,
Somersetshire House; but Sir T.
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| Ætat. 63. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 317 |
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persuaded us to accompany him to Killerton, that we might
see the road that he has opened along the side of the Exe, and then return to
the south coast by way of Barnstaple. At Killerton we met Scoresby the Ceticide,
now the Reverend, and the Earl of Devon.
We paid our visit to Mrs. Hodson, at
Dawlish and there met Colonel Napier, brother to the
Peninsular historian, and Mrs. Crawford, widow of the General, who was killed at Ciudad Rodrigo.
Thursday last we breakfasted with Charles
Hoare, the banker, who is uncle to both Sir
Thomas and Lady Acland.
He has a beautiful house, which he built himself, near Dawlish. From thence Sir
Thomas drove us to Mamhead, where Sir Robert
Newman has built, and is now busily decorating, the most
gorgeous mansion I have ever seen. Here Lord Devon met us,
and took us to Powderham Castle. The Poor-Law Bill is working well here, they
tell me; and it has had the good effect of bringing the better kind of country
gentlemen in contact with the farmers, who used to think that gentlemen knew
nothing, and are now convinced that they are better informed than themselves.
“We staid one night at Powderham, and went next day to
my old friend Lightfoot’s, near
Crediton; there we spent three comfortable days in a parsonage, having every
thing about us that the heart of man could desire. To-morrow we return to
Barnstaple, and go to Mr. Buck’s,
the chief of the North Devon Conservatives, near Bedeford, who has offered us
hospitality, and to show us Clovelly and Hartland. Sir Thomas talks of meeting us again at Bude. . . . . ![]()
| 318 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 63. |
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At Poole’s
we met Mr. Cross, whose discoveries
astonished the Wittenagemot at Bristol. You would like his frank unassuming
manner. . . . . We saw the storm of Tuesday, Nov. 29., from a house on the
beach at Dawlish, which was considered to be in danger, if the wind had not
changed when it did. The effect of the change more resembled what I suppose may
be that of a hurricane than any thing I ever witnessed before: it whirled the
waves about, and the whole surface of the sea was covered with spray flying in
all directions. On Saturday week we were called out to a fire which consumed a
large farm-house, not far from Lightfoot’s. It will
be well if the ensuing week passes without our seeing a shipwreck; for when the
winter commences with storms, they seem generally to prevail through it, as far
as my observation extends, or rather as far as my recollection can be trusted.
“This wandering life is as little suited to my
inclination as to my habits; but it has its use in shaking up the system and in
refreshing old recollections. Much of what I see and hear will at some time or
other turn to account, I hope; and, moreover, it will be a good thing for
Cuthbert to have seen my old friends
and so much of his own country.
“God bless you!
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, tenth baronet (1787-1871)
Tory politician and philanthropist, educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford; he was
MP for Devon (1812-18, 1820-31) and North Devon (1837-57). He was a founder of Grillion's
Club and active in religious causes.
Lewis William Buck (1784-1858)
Of Hartland Abbey and Affeton, Devon, the son of George Stucley Buck; educated at
Blundell's School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was a Tory M.P. for Exeter (1826-32)
and North Devon (1839-57).
William Courtenay, tenth earl of Devon (1777-1859)
The son of Henry Reginald Courtenay, bishop of Exeter; educated at Westminster, Christ
Church, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn, he was a Tory MP for Exeter (1812-26), master in
chancery, and his steward of Oxford University (1838-59).
Robert Craufurd (1764-1812)
Scottish military officer who served under Wellington in the Penninsular War; he was
mortally wounded at the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.
Andrew Crosse (1784-1855)
Of Broomfield, Somerset; educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he was a country
gentleman who experimented with electricity and was an associate of Humphry Davy.
Charles Hoare (1767-1851)
Of Luscombe House, Devon, the son of Sir Richard Hoare, first baronet; he was a London
banker.
Margaret Hodson [née Holford] (1778-1852)
English poet popular in the interval between Anna Seward and Felicia Hemans; she
published
Wallace, or, The Fight of Falkirk (1809) and
Margaret of Anjou (1816). She married Septimus Hodson in
1826.
Nicholas Lightfoot (1771 c.-1847)
The son of Nicholas Lightfoot, Devon, he was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and was
curate of Churcheton, Devon (1795) and rector of Pomeroy, Devonshire (1831-47). He
corresponded with his schoolmate, Robert Southey.
Sir William Francis Patrick Napier (1785-1860)
British general; served in Spain and Portugal (1808-13); author of
History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the Year 1807 to
the Year 1814, 6 vols (1828).
Sir Robert Newman, first baronet (1776-1848)
Of Mamhead, the son of Thomas Newman, wine merchant of Oporto; he was a merchant and Whig
MP for Bletchingly (1812-18) and Exeter (1818-26).
Thomas Poole (1766-1837)
Of Nether Stowey; he was a farmer, tanner, and the early friend of Samuel Taylor
Coleridge.
William Scoresby the younger (1789-1857)
The son of an Arctic whaler, he became an explorer and in was elected fellow of the Royal
Society; he afterwards became a clergyman and prolific writer.
Charles Cuthbert Southey (1819-1888)
Son of Robert Southey whose
Life and Correspondence (1849-1850) he
edited. Educated at Queen's College, Oxford, he was curate of Plumbland in Cumberland,
vicar of Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset (1855-79) and Askham, near Penrith (1885).
