The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part 2: 1798-1803 A Romantic Circles Electronic Edition Southey, Robert, 1774-1843 Lynda Pratt Romantic Circles General Editor, Neil Fraistat General Editor, Steven E. Jones Technical Editor Laura Mandell 2011-08-15 rce487 letterEEd.26.478 Romantic Circles, http://www.rc.umd.edu, University of Maryland College Park, MD August 15, 2011

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National Library of Wales, MS 4811D. 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.

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478. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 January 1800 Address: To/ C W Williams Wynn Esqr/ Wynnstay/ near Wrexham/ DenbighshireStamped: BRISTOLPostmark: JAN 16 1800MS: National Library of Wales, MS 4811DUnpublished. My dear Wynn

The Sarsar is the icy wind of death; & its reservoir is in the centre of the earth. so say the notes to Vathek Thalaba the Destroyer (1801), Book 1, lines 555–556. It is described as the ‘sansar’ in William Beckford (1760–1844; DNB), An Arabian Tale, From an Unpublished Manuscript: With Notes Critical and Explanatory (London, 1786), p. 207, but is not mentioned in the notes. – I have neither the book nor memorandum by me, & know not the authority referred to. nor is the word in D’Herbelot.Barthelemy d’Herbelot (1625–1695), Bibliotheque Orientale, ou Dictionnaire Universel Contenant Generalement Tout ce qui Regarde la Connoissance des Peuples de l’Orient (1697). with the Simoom Thalaba the Destroyer (1801), Book 2, lines 393–401. The Simoom is a hot, dry, dust-laden wind. it has no affinity – except its deadliness. the Simoom I have employed with very great effect at the end of the second book. one of the magicians has found Thalaba by means of his ring with the bit of hell-fire set in it. at the hour of prayer when Thalaba & the Bedouins with whom he dwells fall on their faces in adoration – Abdaldar stands over him to strike. at that instant comes the blast of the desert. This I think the finest incident that I have ever conceived.

This mild weather favours me much, & the difference I perceive is very great. hence, I conclude that climate materially effects me – for I never suffered so much as during the severe weather. I will come to London as soon as I conveniently can & take the opportunity of keeping a term. I want to talk with you respecting law, & express the complete conviction I feel that the chancery lineCivil cases heard before the Court of Chancery. will suit me best.

God bless you. yrs R Southey.

Jany. 16. 1800.