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 rce804 letterEEd.26.795 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. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 317-318.

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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 NINES categories for Genre and Material Form at http://www.performantsoftware.com/nines_wiki/index.php/Submitting_RDF#.3Cnines:genre.3E on 2009-02-26 Architecture Artifacts Bibliography Collection Criticism Letters Drama Life Writing Politics Folklore Ephemera Fiction History Leisure Manuscript Reference Works Humor Education Music nonfiction Paratext Perodical Philosphy Photograph Citation Family Life Poetry Religion Review Visual Art Translation Travel Book History Law Southey Letters: Biographies Southey Letters: Places Laura Mandell XSLT Transforming after latest corrections Laura Mandell XSLT Transforming Averill Buchanan corrections from proofing Averill Buchanan Part II added
795. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 9 June [1803] Address: To/ C W Williams Wynn Esqr. M.P./ Lincolns Inn/ LondonPostmarks: FREE/ JUN 10 1803; BRISTOL/ JN 9 1803Endorsements: June 9 1803; Mr WynnMS: National Library of Wales, MS 4811DPreviously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 317-318.

It has come into my head that France will go to war with Portugal – & if so perhaps we may send an army there, & if so – perhaps it might not be impossible that I could get a civil appointment, of which there were plenty of good berths for the last war. Now by what xx channel & what interest are these things to be obtained? for it is worth trying if the opportunity should offer. To go to Lisbon any how would help my history,Southey’s unfinished ‘History of Portugal’. & the flaws in my lifehold lease, but to have pay for going there, & rations, & baughA pudding made from milk and flour. & forage into the bargain, would be what they call in Portugal a fat fortune. these appointments are places of emolument – not of honour or rank or advancement – & so the more procurable. My Uncle was made Chaplain to the last staff by the Duke of NorthumberlandsHugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (1742-1817; DNB). He had spent some time in Lisbon in the 1790s. desire. I believe that my for my Uncles sake Lord ButeJohn Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (1744-1814; DNB), Ambassador to Spain 1795-1796 and collector of books on Spain and Portugal, an interest which may have led him to know Herbert Hill. & the Duke of BedfordJohn Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839; DNB). His first wife, Lady Georgiana Russell (c. 1768-1801), spent two years in Portugal for her health and was friendly with Herbert Hill. would willingly serve me in this way were he to request it. but I am quite ignorant how these things are got at. & have hurried the thought out of my head upon this paper just as it came in.

Methinks it is my turn now to call you lazy. if I did not see your name in the list of the minority, & your potential autograph upon my proofsheets. I should begin to be doubtful whether you were not translated to the other world.

Luckily I have found just in time for the PrefaceSouthey’s translation of Amadis of Gaul, 4 vols (London, 1803), I, ‘Preface’, pp. x-xi. a positive assertion that Vasco LobeiraVasco de Lobeira (d. 1403), medieval troubadour. He was not the originator of Amadis of Gaul, which dates to the early 14th century. is the author of Amadis, & the the inventor of the story, in an old ChronicleGomes Eanes de Zurara (c. 1410-1474), in his ‘Chronica do Conde Dom Pedro de Menezes’ (1463), published in Jose Correia da Serra (1750-1823), Colleccao de Livros Ineditos da Historia Portugueza, 4 vols (Lisbon, 1790-1816), II,; no. 3785 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. written just 60 years after Lobeiras death by the Royal Chronicler of Portugal, a man uncommonly versed in the literature of his age, & whose authority cannot be questioned. I am proceeding triumphantly with the history, & have done considerably more than half a volume since you were here. if this war shuts me from Portugal & cuts off my supplies of books – it will almost break my heart. God send that BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821, First Consul 1799-1804, Emperor of the French 1804-1814). may come in person with his Invaders. he had better come with a diving-bell instead of a helmet, in readiness – for if he do not feed the crabs in the channel –

& if he do not feed the crabs the Crows shall have him ashore.

God bless you. R S. June 9.