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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 23. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), I, pp. 323–324 [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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Grosvenor I have found out a better fence for our Eutopia than Carlisles plantation of vipers & rattle snakes. it is to surround it with a Vacuum. for you know Grosvenor this would so puzzle the philosophers on the other side; & we might see them making experiments upon the atmosphere — to the great annoyance of dogs whom they would scientifically torture. besides — if we had any refractory inmate we might push him into the void.
But how could you blunder about Tuesday so egregiously. did not I say expressly dine at Grays Inn with me? look you. I am John Mays guest for some 24 hours. now in common civility I must dine one day with him; & we hope to be lodged on the Wednesday. so I hold myself engaged to the blackguard mess on Tuesday & the next day to him. you do not know him — but he is one whom I greatly respect — & I should like to have him on the right side of the vacuum. I have written to Wynn to explain this & call you an ideot. & now remember to meet me at his rooms on Tuesday as soon after three as you please.
I hate the journey — & yet going to London I may say with Quarles
My journey’s better than my journeys end.
If Buonaparte should come before I look like Sir John Comyns
Charles Lloyd is coming to London with me — & means to lodge in the same house. how all this chanced is a long & odd story. I could wish you to know him well — but it would be an effort to give his character — & I love not exertion. thus much however I will say — his feelings are too susceptible of neglect or kindness. they are not so blunt as we could wish them or as they should be for his own happiness. & a little attention to him in conversation, will & any trifling mark of kindness will highly gratify him.
And now God bless you. & give my love to Carlisle & to Horace.
————
Your letter is arrived. why not trust the settled quietness to which my mind has arrived? it is wisdom to avoid all violent emotions. I would not annihilate my feelings — but I would have them under a most Spartan despotism. Grosvenor Inveni portum. spes & fortuna valete.
I have laid up the advice of Boethius in my heart — & prescribe it to you — so fare you well