The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part 1: 1791-1797 A Romantic Circles Electronic Edition Southey, Robert, 1774-1843 Lynda Pratt Romantic Circles General Editor, Neil Fraistat General Editor, Steven E. Jones General Editor, Carl Stahmer Technical Editor Laura Mandell 2009-03-15 rce186 letterEEd.26.186 Romantic Circles, http://www.rc.umd.edu, University of Maryland College Park, MD March 15, 2009

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British Library, Add MS 30,927. Not previously published.

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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186. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey [brother], [c. November 1796] Address: For/ Mr T, Southey/ Phœbe Frigate/ Falmouth/ SingleStamped: BRISTOLMS: British Library, Add MS 30,927Unpublished.Dating note: The reference to the printing of Poems (1797) and Letters Written During a Short Residence in Spain and Portugal (1797), as well as the Bristol stamp on this letter, suggest a date in November 1796. Dear Tom

I give you joy of your safe arrival — if the Dutch-man had not been as heavy in his head as he is in his tail you would have been snug in a French port. it may perhaps be sometime before the Phoebe arrives for you — to which you will probably have little objection being now Commander in Chief & of course able to give yourself leave to go on shore.

Miss RussellPossibly a reference to Southey’s landlady during his stay in Falmouth in late November 1795. is a pleasant old Lady. I wishd to have sent some <copies of> Joan of Arc to Lisbon by her means, but she could not serve me so — so I wait for Thomas to carry them — a 99th cousin of ours whom I found at Lisbon — he returned to England with me & is going again to Lisbon. I hope you may not left Falmouth till he arrives there, in which case I shall commission him to call on you.

what is the name of the Lieutenant of the Pomona who has orderd Joan of Arc? The Pomona was a frigate in the British navy. The name of the officer who ordered a copy of Joan of Arc is not recorded. tis a strange book for a Sailor to order & I therefore apprehend that he must have some knowledge of me — how — God knows.

I hope to send you a couple of volumesSouthey’s Poems (1797) and Letters Written During a Short Residence in Spain and Portugal (1797). by Christmas. one of poems, & one of my letters from Spain & Portugal. they are both in the press & the latter far advanced.

Of the probability of peace I can give no opinion. I cannot suspect our ministerThe Prime Minister, William Pitt, the Younger (1759–1806; DNB). of inconsistency enough to be sincere; yet he must want peace — he must want to terminate a war so xxxxx disgraceful in its cause & conduct. if it continues the commerce of England will receive a deadly blow. the Mediterranean is already shut upon us — so is every port in the Bay — & so will be the three Portuguese Ports — Lisbon Porto & Setuval. Hambro will likewise be shut. & thus the most important branches of trade will be annihilated.

My Uncle has plenty of acquaintance at Falmouth. Mrs Braithwait & Mrs Walkup at FlushingUnidentified; presumably friends of Herbert Hill. — Harris & Todd of the packetsUnidentified; presumably friends of Herbert Hill. with all of whom I dined. I wish I knew enough of them to send you to them — however if you fall in with any of them mention your Uncles name.

You have seen Coruña then. is it not a striking situation? the Tower of Hercules the town almost islanded — & the rocky mountains of Galicia from down to Cape Ortegal form a bold & beautiful prospect. if you ever put in there call on Jardine the Consul — he perfectly fraternized with me. & will be glad to see you.

I saw your vessel off Lisbon when you attempted to convey us a letter. that would be a pleasant port to harbour in. Capt Mowbray of the Fly sloop was there some months when I was — & loth enough to leave it. he was then commander of the Magicienne Frigate.Richard Hussey Mowbray (1776–1842), naval officer.

is not your time of being a midshipman almost out? I will answer for getting you made Lieutenant. by & by you will be an excellent Admiral — when Admirals are what they ought to be. times will mend. I hope to be in London by Xmas, & then Tom whenever you can get leave of absence you will a comfortable home to come to.

Harry is I think much improved. I am very far from wishing to make a sailor of him. as soon as I have a house he shall live with me if he chuses to fit himself either for Law or Physic. he may take then to the Church if he pleases, as for breeding a man up to it, it is extremely ridiculous, for if he be of a thinking mind it is a thousand chances to one that he either turns infidel or heretic like your

unitarian brother Robert Southey.

Saturday.

Bristol.

Ediths Love