LETTER 43


CHARLES LAMB TO ROBERT SOUTHEY

[Late January or early February, 1799.]

Dr. Southey,--Lloyd will now be able to give you an account of himself,
so to him I leave you for satisfaction. Great part of his troubles are
lightened by the partial recovery of his sister, who had been alarmingly
ill with similar diseases to his own. The other part of the family
troubles sleeps for the present, but I fear will awake at some future
time to _confound_ and _disunite_. He will probably tell you all about
it. Robert still continues here with me, his father has proposed
nothing, but would willingly lure him back with fair professions. But
Robert is endowed with a wise fortitude, and in this business has acted
quite from himself, and wisely acted. His parents must come forward in
the End. I like reducing parents to a sense of undutifulness. I like
confounding the relations of life. Pray let me see you when you come to
town, and contrive to give me some of your company.

I thank you heartily for your intended presents, but do by no means see
the necessity you are under of burthening yourself thereby. You have
read old Wither's Supersedeas to small purpose. You object to my pauses
being at the end of my lines. I do not know any great difficulty I
should find in diversifying or changing my blank verse; but I go upon