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National Library of Wales, MS 4811D. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 313-315.Dating note: The endorsement indicates that the letter was received by Wynn on 7 June; the letter’s contents indicate it was written before that sent to Wynn of [5 June 1803].
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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The Taxerss. per bushel increase in the malt
tax and a 15% duty on poorer quality tea (better quality
tea was taxed at 45%).trimmers, & for the most part well laid on but
malt should have been spared –
& the advance on low-priced teas will be very unpopular
– for tea is in fact the main comfort & single luxury of
the poor. a pernicious one I believe – but still the beast
should be humoured as much as possible when so heavy a load
is to be laid on him. A tax might well be laid upon all
finer articles of dress, such as are peculiar to the better
class. sixpence per yard upon superfine cloths or in that
proportion – fine muslins, fine linens – fine printed
cottons. a light tax would not injure the manufacture, &
would be exceedingly productive – for these latter articles are 20 or 30 per cent
cheaper than they were 20 years ago. A stamp duty of one
penny in the shilling upon all new books – except bibles
&c & school books. to last only during the war. this
would be very productive. the single Cyclopædia
I did not expect ever to feel any
uncomfortable interest in public affairs again but the
conduct of France quite vexes & irritates me & I
could shake hands with Mr Wyndham.
If they take Hamburgh, the money of the
Hamburghers should come here – not go to Paris. batter it
about the ears of the French army. if Spain go to war (which
if possible should be avoided, for Spain is not hostile in
its feelings towards England & is a more formidable
enemy than people are aware of – her gun boats in spite of
Gibralter actually commanding the Straights against all
merchant vessels) – if Spain be forced into the war any body
except Sir James Pulteney
I know not what to wish about ministers.
these men lack talents & yet I cannot help liking them
by comparison. they have brought back the old temper of
Englishmen. there was a cruelty in the old administration –
which seems to have proceeded more from the Duke of
Portland
Your brother
I am disappointed that you do not like
Urraca
Should Portugal be in earnest in resisting France & Spain with the help of England it can as well do it now as it has <done> heretofore. the march from France to Portugal is very long & thro a country alway scantily stocked. 600 miles is a heavy distance under such inconveniences.
Lisbon is supplied with corn by sea for 33 weeks in the year. this is accurate information, & this is the main defence of the city against the French, for the mouth of the Tagus is easily commanded, & so the city is starved.