630. Robert Southey to John
Rickman, 21 November [1801]
*
Bridge Street.
Nov. 21.
Your letter with the Bill reached me – or rather I reached it – only this morning
– & I write only in form to acknowledge it.
Mr Corry opened
an interesting conversation with me this morning. he hinted – I suppose the
usual method of proposing – that I should write the history of the war in
Egypt [1] – officially – that is with the papers & sanction
of government. they want to blaze off with the glory of their victory there. To
this I opposed a rumour that Sir Sydney Smith [2] meant to be his own Commentator. if not
– why not I as well as any one else? indeed the rather – because I liked Bonapartes [3] scheme,
& should as justly pay as just an
attention to the scales – bearing ever in mind the figure over the Castle
Gateway. [4] if
this comes to any thing it will be profitable. you shall hear the earliest
tidings.
The packet you allude to as directed here is not yet come. I
marvel thereat.
Edith desires to be remembered
–
farewell
yrs truly
R Southey.
Notes
* MS: Huntington Library, RS
13
Unpublished. BACK
[1] French troops had invaded and
occupied Egypt in July 1798. They were not expelled by British forces until
September 1801. BACK
[2] Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840; DNB), whose
defence of the city of Acre in March-May 1799 had halted the advance of
French troops into Palestine. BACK
[3] Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821; First Consul 1799-1804,
Emperor of the French 1804-1814) had commanded French troops in Egypt
1798-1799 and planned to make the country a French colony. BACK
[4] A statue of Justice, with
sword in one hand and scales in the other, stood above the lower gateway of
Dublin Castle. Unfortunately, rainwater tended to collect in one of the two
pans of Justice’s scales, ensuring they were usually unbalanced. BACK
