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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 22. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), I, pp. 247–250 [in part].
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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I have been living over three years & a half in your
letters Grosvenor. with
what variety of reflections you may imagine. from the date of the Flagellant
thro many a various plan! you asked Collins when you first saw <him> after his residence at
Oxford if I was altered — & his “no” gave you pleasure. I have been
asking myself the same question — & alas — in truth must return the same
answer. no I am not altered. I am as warm hearted & as open as ever —
Experience never wasted her lesson on a less fit pupil — yet Bedford my mind is
considerably expanded — my opinions are better grounded & frequent
self-conviction of error has taught me a sufficient degree of scepticism upon
all subjects to prevent confidence. the frequent & careful study of Godwin was of essential service — I
read & all but worshipped — I have since seen his fundamental error —
that he theorizes for another state — not for the rule of conduct in the present
— I despise the man — I can confute his principles. but all the good he has done
me remains. tis a book
my poetical taste was much meliorated by Bowles,
You have made me neglect necessary business. I was busy with this
huge work of mine — when your letters tempted me, & they gave me an
appetite for the pen. Somehow they have made me low spirited — & I find
a repletion of the lachrymal glands. apropos — do kill some dozen men for me
anatomically any where except in the head or heart. damn all wars! I am as much
puzzled to carry on mine at Orleans — as our admirable minister
I am obliged to Nares
for a very handsome review. it is my intention next year to write a tragedy. the
subject from the Observer. the Portuguese accused before the Inquisition of
incest & muder. read the story.
last night in returning from Bristol (on foot) I for the first
time saw the whole process of the moon rising — & very lovely it was. an
accurate observation of the appearances of nature, has improved me much in
description. a gooseberry eyed Scotch methodist schoolmaster rankd <ranks> me the next to
Thomson!
Madoc is to be the pillar of my reputation. how many a melancholy hour have I beguiled by writing poetry!
I have got an old translation of Montaignes essays
curious beginning of an alchemistical receipt. “In the name of God! take an urinal.
I have a thousand things to show you & say to you. but
dinner disturbs me — I cannot write during the preparations — & so for
Tristram Shandy — God bless you.
th
I found your letter on my arrival to day. my Uncle writes not to me — & I begin to think he is so displeased at my rejecting a good settlement for the foolish prejudice I have against perjuring myself that he gives me up. aussi bien! so be it. any thing but this terrible suspense — Zounds Grosvenor — suspense shall be the object of my tragedy. — indeed indeed I have often the heart ache.
cannot you come to Bath for a week? I have so much to say to you
— & I will never quit Edith. xx every day endears her to me — I
am as melancholy here at Bath as you can imagine — & yet I am very
little here — not two days in the week. the rest I pass with Cottle that I may be near her. Cottle offered me his house in a
letter which you shall see when we meet — & for which he will ever hold
a high place in your heart. — I bear a good face & keep all uneasiness
to myself — indeed the port is in view & I must <not> mind
a little sickness on the voyage.
your stanza on Hope may be made excellent. your translation I
have not yet compared with the Greek — when I have you shall have my remarks.
you should study Pope
thank Harry for me with all affection. he has given me clear ideas upon the subject.
who stopt the mail coach on the Kings high way, not having the fear of God & the King before his eyes
— no — nor of the Guard & his Blunderbuss. what a pity Grosvenor that that Blunderbuss should be
levelled at you! how it would have struck a Democrat! never
mind — tis only a flash — & you like a fellow whose
uttermost upper grinder is being torn out by the roots
by a mutton fisted barber — will — grin & endure
it.
Gaiety suits ill with me. the above extempore witticisms are as old as six o clock Monday morning last — & noted down in my pocket book for you. — God bless you — Good night.
I visited Hannah More
at Cowslip Green on Monday last — & seldom have I lived a pleasanter
day. she knew my opinions & treated them with a flattering deference.
her manners are mild — her information considerable & her taste correct
— there are five sisters & each of them would be remarkd in a mixed
company. of Lord Orford
if you print your Musæus print the Greek likewise.
I have written my letter to Ld Carysfort — thank God! —
& Carlo is bit! I almost
doubt the fact — he perhaps believes it himself. in truth Grosvenor most men pursue
the ignis fatuus. by the by I feel some curiosity to know if the Miss Whitman or
Whitbourne
th. tea time.