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Huntington Library, RS 35. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 315-317.
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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It is many a week since I have written to or heard from you, & probably you as well as myself have been silent more from industry than idleness. & silent I should have continued till my commissions from Lisbon arrive & enable me to say when I shall appear in town, if I had not a question to propound to my Oracle.
How is it that debasing the coin produces such ruinous effects,
in countries that not carrying on any extensive commerce, have but very little
dealing with foreign states? & at a period when there were no Birmingham
tradersxxxxx pass for five shillings – or five guineas
as well as a piece of silver paper. It is very clear that base money will not do
for foreign traffic – but the iron money of Sparta served at home as well as
gold. the Castilian trade in the 14th century was too
trifling to account for the general complaint. – When you have half an hours
leisure do make this matter plain to me.
That rascally Scotch Review of John Woodvillexx particular excellencies which outweigh their
defects. Coleridge thinks
that the reason why those Scotchmen hate him as they evidently do, is because
Stoddart
I am promised access to the Kings Libraryxxxx
winter – perhaps the Autumn of next year all my materials here will be gone
thro, & then I should go over, & fix no period for my return. Now as
things are, perhaps it would be my wisest way to go over at once & collect
what I can while I can. but then I shall be wishing myself at home. & to
look one way & now another is not the way for any one, except a waterman, to
get on. Since you heard from me I have had a sad diabetes, a complaint to which
I have been often subject – in consequence probably of general weakness, &
both last Autumn & last Spring I felt the climate like a confirmed
valetudinarian. now I do not value my self so little as to think myself as well
underground as above it, for certainly I am good for something else beside
church yard manure. & moreover I like life, for I enjoy it, & have as
xxx much reason to like it & as much
actual happiness as falls to the lot of most men. And I do verily believe that
were I settled in such a climate as that of Lisbon it would renew my lifehold
lease, & give me a better tenure, & a chance of a much longer life than
I can possibly have here – where I am going on somewhat like a myrtle at a
parlour window in London. If there should be an army sent to Portugal, as there
was last war, I think I would try to get some civil
appointment – there are plenty of such appointments with good pay & good
rations into the bargain, & perhaps my Uncles interest might help me
to one – I could do the business & yet have leisure.
It will not be long before I shall announce my appearance. I have
begun to catalogue my books here with a view to filling it up in London. since
Amadis
Edith desires to be remembered. she is well & Margaret grows lustily, & has a pair of as quick eyes as were ever kindled by intelligence.