561. Robert Southey to John May, 16 December 1800 ⁠* 

Lisbon, Dec. 16. 1800.

My dear Friend,

I have drawn on you this day for 40l., to which amount you will receive a draught from Wynn. He had directed me to draw immediately on him, at his banker’s, but it appeared better to me to proceed as usual. My uncle will pay 25l. for me into your hands; when you receive it, have the goodness to remit 15l. to Mr. Danvers, 9. St. James’s Place, Kingsdown, Bristol.

I had hoped ere this to have heard from you, but you have of late proved a lax correspondent. With all our news you are acquainted from other quarters. We have a pleasant family near us, introduced to our circle by Mr. Barnes’s [1]  letter – the Hammets. [2]  In their companion, Miss Seton, I have found an accomplished woman, whose society is pleasant and profitable. We are in my uncle’s house, to take care of it, – and use more conveniently the cellar and the library, both highly essential apartments, and well stored. Better information is, that I am seriously at the great historic task. John Bell [3]  has introduced me to Müller, [4]  the apostate, who is, however, just as sincere a Catholic as he was a Lutheran. Müller has procured me access to the library MSS., and I expect, through him, daily, an introduction to the disembargador, my opposite neighbour, chief librarian, a curioso in the poetry of the country, and whose collection is rich with the duplicates among the Jesuit libraries, whose ruins formed the magnificent public one, so well and liberally conducted. [5]  Moreover, there is a Portuguese physician, [6]  introduced to me by English letters, a man of great merit, who is in hopes to get me the unrestrained use of the St. Bento Convent books, [7]  that I may have them at home.

You will not think the paper ill employed that communicates my plan [8]  – now, I think, maturely considered. The fabulous history from Tubal [9]  to be briefly given. So Milton [10]  did with our British fables; – and the vain fictions of one country have as much right to be preserved as those of another. All that is known of the nations to be collected from classical writers. The Roman revolutions that occurred are irrelevant: the object is a picture of the prevailing manners. Of the Gothic period, the Moors, and the various Christian states that grew upon their ruins – a sort of St. Palaye chapter. [11]  Their barbarous annals are thus best treated, and the moral features of the people more accurately and rememberably painted. An ecclesiastical chapter will complete the preliminaries; and thus a full account be presented of those fermenting principles that have stagnated into the two miserable kingdoms. You know that, till Count Henrique’s [12]  time, all that regards Spain equally regards Portugal; and, indeed, a description of one people now needs little alteration to resemble the other.

Manoel Faria [13]  is my text-book; him I correct or amplify. The Portuguese chronicles, and the Spanish historians, of whom I shall peruse every one. Many of these it is needless to purchase. Many my uncle possesses. Still there is a heavy expense in indispensable books. But the most costly will never lose their value; and as I have no ambition to crowd my shelves with books that have been distilled, I may afterwards sell them with little or no loss. The “Monarquia Lusitana” of Brito and Brandaõ, is the great magazine of information. [14]  These eight folios the bookseller is now procuring for me – Bertrand, [15]  the only civil and reasonable man in the trade. The “Genealogical History” [16]  my uncle means to buy; and it is not desirable to collate all the accounts at once – so many channels puzzle and perplex. Miracles connected with the history I retain, because I will not strip off the embroidery from a bare canvas, and because Affonso Henrique [17]  has as much claim to have his miracles recorded as Romulus. [18]  Insulated traits of the character of the age and people must be arranged in supplementary chapters, and much matter will descend to the bottom of the page in notes – that happy olla podrida  [19]  dish of literature, in which all heterogeneous materials may be served up.

Of manuscripts, the most important are the five folio records of the Inquisition, in whose bloody annals the history of extinguished reformation must be sought. This is a somewhat awkward task. I have seen with eager eyes, itching fingers, and heretical qualms of apprehension this great mass, where and where only the documents for this very important period are attainable. The sub-librarian [20]  is an intelligent man, – more eager to talk freely than I was to encourage the strain. He will not be alarmed to see me employed upon records which he abominates as religiously as myself.

Our weather, with frequent rain, is still delightful; it is like a fine English April. I have, however, little to tempt me from home; and a fire, among my other comforts, contributes to keep me there. Historical researches are very interesting, and of so various a nature, that something may be done even in the most listless moment of indolence. I should, however, like to indulge in an amanuensis, sit in an easy chair, screening my face from the fire with a folio, and so dictate in all imaginable ease. The contortions of the body from book to paper make my sides ache.

Asiatic history must be separately treated; La Clede’s [21]  example shows the impropriety of attempting to carry it on in parallel chronology. The African wars are more fatally connected with home affairs. For all the important history, the documents are ample and excellent, from John I. [22]  to the miserable expedition of Sebastian. [23]  The Braganza revolution and the deposition of Affonso VI. [24]  are also fully enough related. The latter years have events less striking, and more difficult to investigate. The Abbé [25]  has as much life and spirits as when you left Lisbon. His library is very rich in all that relates to Portugal; but there is no person here – or perhaps any where else – so well informed, and so willing to communicate or procure information, as John Bell.

God bless you. Do not omit writing. Have you heard that in one nunnery near St. Jose’s, and unhappily 1 near the emigrant quarters, there are seventeen nuns about to lie in? Edith’s remembrance.

Yours affectionately,

Robert Southey.