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 rce805 letterEEd.26.796 Romantic Circles, http://www.rc.umd.edu, University of Maryland College Park, MD August 15, 2011

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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 23. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849-1850), II, pp. 214-216 [in part].

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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796. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 12 June 1803 Address: To/ G C. Bedford Esqr./ 28 Gerrard Street/ Soho/ London./ SingleStamped: [partial] OLPostmark: B/ JUN 14/ 1803Endorsements: June 12 1803; 12. June 1803MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 23Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849-1850), II, pp. 214-216 [in part].

Why Grosvenor that is an idle squeamishness of yours, that asking a previous leave to speak. Where my conscience becomes second to your challenge, the final <offence> shall be amended – where we differ mine is the voice potential. But in truth I will tell you that I am out of humour with Kehama The Curse of Kehama (1810). Southey had reached Book 3 by this date. for half a hundred reasons. historical composition is a source of greater & quieter & more continuous pleasure & that poem sometimes comes into my head with a – shall I sit down to it, & this is so easily turned out again – that the want of inclination would make me suspect a growing want of power, if some rhymes & poemets did not now & then come out & convince me to the contrary. That second book is good for nothing, it has good parts & pictures – but in tota it is bad; I have some guess how to improve it by managing the weather, & by a piece of natural history which is somewhat of a lie. Abuse away ad libitum.The Latin translates as ‘As much as you like’.

Not Nestor CumberlandRichard Cumberland (1732-1811; DNB), playwright, novelist and poet. He authored an epic poem, Calvary, or, The Death of Christ (1792), and conducted a periodical paper, The Observer, 5 vols (1785-1786). – only as NestorA character from the Iliad, who was present at the siege of Troy but too old to fight. was old. if he must have a Greek <name> – there is but one that fits him – AristophanesAristophanes (c. 446- c. 386 BC), Greek playwright. The Clouds (423 BC) contained an attack on a number of philosophers, including Socrates. – & that for the worst part of the libellers character. If his plays had any honest principle in them instead of that xxx eternal substitution of honour for honesty – of a shadow for a substance –, if his novels were not more profligate in their tendency than Mathew LewissMatthew Gregory Lewis (1775-1818; DNB), The Monk (1796). unhappy book, if the perusal of the Calvary were not a cross heavy enough for any man to bear who has ever read ten lines of Milton – if the man were innocent of all these things by God he ought never to be forgiven for his attempt to blast the character of Socrates.Richard Cumberland, The Observer, 5 vols (London, 1785-1786), I, pp. 66-72. right or wrong no matter. the name had been canonized. & God knows Wisdom & Virtue have not so many Saints that they can spare one altar to his clumsy pick-axe. I am no blind bigot to the Greeks – but I will take the words of Plato & greater XenophonXenophon (c. 430- 354 BC), Memorabilia (after 371 BC) contains a defence of Socrates. against Richard Cumberland Esqr. – Now do not suppose that I deny him any merit. his observer has some fine stories – very fine ones. but damn his plays – damn his novels damn his calvary – & for that wicked work about Socrates damn him in person.

I do desire the CabinetProbably an anonymous publication by Bedford. It could be connected to the short-lived periodical The Cabinet (1803). – because I should like all my friends Operas, stupid whelp that I was not to keep the bookThe controversial schoolboy magazine The Flagellant (1792), which contained the writings of Southey, Bedford and their friends. that contained both our Operas, & which is now opus rascio.The Latin translates as ‘a rare work’. because nobody else cares for it, or ever has cared – my nose is long & sharp scented – but my eyes not so farsighted opus rascio & therefore what sort of a book this is is all unknown to me. but it must be ‘fico for my friendship’ King Henry V, Act 3, scene 6, line 57 [adapted]. The Spanish translates as ‘a fig for my friendship’. be it what it may.

Of your Mr GlasoeAn unidentified associate of Bedford’s. it is but honest to say that I dislike all I have heard from other quarters of him. but I have no objection to see & to be seen, & am never disposed to return manners for civility. there is no danger that his acquaintance can ever be troublesome to me, & if you take me to him you will see me as courteous as you could wish.

The GrenvillesThe followers of William Grenville, Lord Grenville (1759-1834; DNB), Foreign Secretary 1791-1801, Prime Minister 1806-1807. They had opposed the Treaty of Amiens (1802). are in the right, but they got right by sticking in the wrong. they turnd their faces westward in the morning & swore the sun was there, & they have stood still & sworn on till sure enough there the sun is. But they stand upon the strong ground now & have the argument all hollow. Yet what is to come of it & what do they want. The country asks the question War? they have it – & every man in the country says Amen, & they whose politics are the most conservative say Amen most loudly & most sincerely. In spite of their speeches I cannot wish them in, & when change of ministry is talked of cannot but feel with FoxCharles James Fox (1749-1806; DNB), leader of the Whig opposition. that little as I may like them, ten to one I shall like their successors worse. & sure I am that worse war Ministers than the last cannot curse this country. They were Tyrants – cruel Tyrants & provoked hatred & bitter curses by their cruelty. these men behaved so well upon DespardsEdward Despard (1751-1803; DNB), tried and executed on a charge of planning a revolution in 1802. business & have shown such a respect to the liberties & beliefs of the country that they have fully won my good will. I believe they will smarten up a sad piecemeal patchwork administration. TierneyGeorge Tierney (1761-1830; DNB), Whig politician who broke with his party and joined the government in 1803. has a lead – but they talk of SheridanRichard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816; DNB), Whig politician and playwright. In 1803 there were persistent rumours that he would join the government, but he declined to do so. a rank rascal – & of that Irish Lord MoiraFrancis Rawdon Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira (1754-1826; DNB), Whig politician and Irish landowner. He also refused government office in 1803. – & it does seem that by some fatality the best talents of the Kingdom are for ever to be excluded from the government. Fox has not done well – not what I could have wished – & yet I reverence that man so truly that whenever he appears to me to have erred I more than half suspect my own judgement. –

I am promised access to the Kings LibraryLibrary at Windsor built up by George III (1738-1820, King of Great Britain 1760-1820; DNB) and given to the nation in 1823. by Heber – & indeed it is a matter of considerable consequence that I should obtain it. morning noon & night I do nothing but read Chronicles & collect from them – & I have travelled at a great rate the <since> the burthen of translating & reviewing has been got rid of. but this will not last long – I must think by & by of some other job work, & turn to labour again that I may earn another holyday.

I call Margaret by way of avoiding all common place phraseology of endearment – a worthy child & a most excellent character. She loves me better than any except her mother – her eyes are as quick as thought – she is all life & spirit & as happy as the day is long – but that little brain of hers is now at rest – & it is vexatious to see how dreams disturb her.

A Dios!The Spanish translates as ‘good-bye’. RS. June 12. 1803.