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<title type="main">The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part 2: 1798-1803 </title>
<title type="subordinate">A Romantic Circles Electronic Edition</title>
<author>
<name>Southey, Robert, 1774-1843</name>
</author>
<editor>Lynda Pratt</editor>
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<date>2011-08-15</date>
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<idno type="nines">rce886</idno>
<idno type="edition">letterEEd.26.877</idno>
<publisher>Romantic Circles, http://www.rc.umd.edu, University of Maryland</publisher>
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<date when="2011-08-15">August 15, 2011</date>
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<sourceDesc>
<p>National Library of Wales, MS
                        4819E.  Not previously published.</p>
<p>These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
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<div n="877" type="letter">
<head>877. Robert Southey to <ref target="people.html#WynnCharlesWW">Charles Watkin
                        Williams Wynn</ref>, <date when="1804-12-31">[c. late December 1803-mid
                        February 1804]</date>
<note place="foot" resp="editors" type="headnote">Address: To/ C W W Wynn Esq<hi rend="sup">r</hi> M. P./ Wynnstay/
                        Wrexham<lb/>Stamped: KESWICK/ 298<lb/>MS: National Library of Wales, MS
                        4819E<lb/>Unpublished.<lb/>Dating note: The earliest this letter could have
                        been written was when Southey heard of James Mackintosh’s knighthood, which
                        was announced on 21 December 1803; Southey sent a section of the next book
                        of <title>Madoc</title> to Tom Southey on 17 February 1804 and had completed
                        revisions to the first part of the poem by this date, so this letter is
                        unlikely to have been sent after mid-February 1804.</note>
</head>
<p rend="indent6"> Madoc </p>
<p rend="indent6"> 5 </p>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> At morning their high-priest Ayayaca</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Came with our guide. the venerable man</l>
<l rend="indent3"> With more especial welcome greeted <del rend="strikethrough">xxx</del> me</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Deeming us children of another race</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Mightier than they. He led us to the Queen.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The fate of war had robbd her of her realm,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yet with affection &amp; habitual awe,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And old remembrances that gave their love</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A deeper &amp; religious character,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Fallen as she was &amp; humbled as they were,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her faithful people still in all they could</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Obeyed Erilyab. She too in her mind</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Those recollections cherishd, &amp; such thoughts</l>
<l rend="indent3"> As, tho no hope tempered their bitterness,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Gave to her eye a spirit, &amp; a strength</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of pride to features which had borne <hi rend="ital">belike</hi>,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Had they been fashioned to a happier fate,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Meaning more gentle &amp; more womanly</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yet not more worthy of esteem &amp; love.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> She sate upon the threshold of her hut</l>
<l rend="indent3"> For in the country where her sires had reignd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The conqueror dwelt. her son was at her side,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A boy now near to manhood. By the door</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Bared of its bark, the head &amp; branches shorn,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Stood a young tree with many a weapon hung,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her Husbands War-pole, &amp; his monument.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> There had his quiver moulderd, his stone axe</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Had there grown green with moss, his bow string there</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Sung, as it cut the wind.</l>
<l rend="indent6"> She welcomed us</l>
<l rend="indent3"> With a proud sorrow in her mien, fresh fruits</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Were spread before us, &amp; her features said</l>
<l rend="indent3"> That when He lived whose hand was wont to wield</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Those weapons, – that in better days, – that ere</l>
<l rend="indent3"> She let the tresses of her widowhood</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Grow wild, she could have given to guests like us</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A worthier welcome. Soon a man approachd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Hooded with sable, <del rend="strikethrough">x</del> his
                        half-naked limbs</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Smeard black. the people at his sight drew round</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The women waild &amp; wept, the children turnd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And hid their faces on their mothers knees.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> He to the Queen addrest his speech, then lookd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Around the children, &amp; laid hands on two</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of different sexes, but of age alike,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Some six years each. they at his touch shriekd out,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But then Lincoya rose, &amp; to my feet</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Led them, &amp; told me that the conquerors claimd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> These innocents for tribute; that the Priest</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Would lay them on the altar of his God,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Tear out their little hearts in sacrifice,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yea with more cursed wickedness, himself</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Feed on their flesh. I shuddered &amp; my hand</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Instinctively unsheathed the holy sword.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He with most passionate &amp; eloquent signs</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Eye-speaking earnestness &amp; quivering lips,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Besought me to preserve himself &amp; those</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Who now fell suppliant round me, youths &amp; maids</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Gray-headed men &amp; mothers with their babes.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> I caught the little victims up – I kissed</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Their innocent cheeks – I raised my eyes to Heaven</l>
<l rend="indent3"> I calld upon Almighty God to hear</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And bless the vow I made. in our own tongue</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Was that sworn promise of protection vowd, –</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Impetuous feeling made no pause for thought. –</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Heaven heard the vow; the suppliant multitude</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Saw what was stirring in my heart, the Priest</l>
<l rend="indent3"> With eye inflamed &amp; rapid answer, raisd </l>
<l rend="indent3"> His menacing hand, the tone, the bitter smile</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Interpreting his threat.</l>
<l rend="indent6"> Meantime the Queen</l>
<l rend="indent3"> With watchful eye &amp; steady countenance</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Had listened, – now she rose &amp; to the Priest</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Addressd her speech. low was her voice &amp; calm</l>
<l rend="indent3"> As one who spake with effort to subdue</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Sorrow that struggled still, but as she spake</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her features kindled to more majesty</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her eye became more animate, her voice</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Rose to the height of feeling. on her son</l>
<l rend="indent3"> She calld &amp; from her husbands monument</l>
<l rend="indent3"> His battle axe she took, &amp; I could see</l>
<l rend="indent3"> That as she gave the boy his fathers arms</l>
<l rend="indent3"> She calld his fathers spirit to look on</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And bless them to his vengeance.</l>
<l rend="indent7"> Silently</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The tribe stood listening as Erilyab spake,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The very Priest was awed; once he essayd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> To answer, his tongue faild him &amp; his lip</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Grew pale &amp; fell. he to his countrymen,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of rage &amp; shame &amp; wonder full, returnd,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Bearing no victims for their shrines accurst,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But tidings that the Homen had cast off</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Their vassalage, rousd to desperate revolt</l>
<l rend="indent3"> By men in hue &amp; speech &amp; garment strange,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Who in their folly dared defy the power</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of Aztlan.</l>
<l rend="indent4"> When the King of Aztlan heard,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The unlookd-for tale, ere yet he rousd his strength</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Or pitying our rash valour, or <hi rend="ital">belike</hi>
</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Curious to see the man so bravely rash,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He sent to bid me to his court. surprized</l>
<l rend="indent3"> I should have given to him no credulous faith,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But fearlessly Erilyab bade me trust</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her honourable foe. unarmd I went,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Lincoya with me to exchange our speech</l>
<l rend="indent3"> So as he could, of safety first assured,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> For to their damned idols he had been</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A victim doomd, &amp; from the bloody rites</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Flying, been carried captive far away.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> From early morning till the mid-noon hour</l>
<l rend="indent3"> We travelled in the mountains, then a plain</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Opened below; &amp; rose upon the sight</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Like boundless ocean from a hill top seen.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A beautiful &amp; populous plain it was,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Fair woods were there, &amp; fertilizing streams</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And pastures spreading <del rend="strikethrough">wild</del>
                        wide, &amp; villages</l>
<l rend="indent3"> In fruitful groves embowered, &amp; stately towns,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And many a single dwelling specking it,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> As tho for many a year the land had been</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The land of peace. below us where the base</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of the great mountains to the level sloped,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A broad blue lake extended far &amp; wide</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Its waters, dark beneath the light of noon.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> There Aztlan stood upon the farther shore,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Amid the shade of trees its dwellings rose,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Their level roofs with turrets set around.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And battlements all burnishd white, that shone</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Like silver in the sunshine. I beheld</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The imperial city, her far-arching walls,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her garden-groves &amp; stately palaces,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Her temples mountain-size, her thousand roofs.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And when I saw her might &amp; majesty</l>
<l rend="indent3"> My mind misgave me <hi rend="ital">then</hi>.</l>
<l rend="indent6"> We reachd the shore</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A floating Islet waited for me there,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The beautiful work of man. I set my foot</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Upon green-growing herbs &amp; flowers, &amp; sate</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Embowered in odorous shrubs. four long light boats</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yoked to the garden, with accordant song</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And dip &amp; dash of oar in harmony,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Bore me across the lake.</l>
<l rend="indent6"> Then in a car</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Aloft by human bearers was I borne,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And thro the city gate, &amp; thro long lines</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of marshalld multitudes who thronged the way,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> We reachd the palace court. four Priests were there </l>
<l rend="indent3"> Each held a burning censer in his hand</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And strewd the precious gum as I drew nigh,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And held the steaming fragrance forth to me,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> As I had been a God. they led me in</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Where on his throne the royal Aztěca</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Cōănăcotzin sate. Stranger, said he,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Welcome, &amp; be this coming to thy weal!</l>
<l rend="indent3"> A desperate warfare doth thy courage court,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But thou shalt see the people &amp; the power</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Whom thy deluded zeal would call to arms,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> So may the knowledge make thee timely wise.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The valiant love the valiant. come with me.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> He said &amp; rose. we went together forth</l>
<l rend="indent3"> To the Great Temple, twas a huge square</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Or rather like a rock it seemd, hewn out</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And squared by patient labour. never yet</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Did our forefathers oer their leader slain</l>
<l rend="indent3"> In glorious battle, heap a monument</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of that prodigious bulk, tho every shield</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Was laden for his grave, &amp; every hand</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Toild unremitting at the willing work</l>
<l rend="indent3"> From morn till eve, all the long summer day.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> The ascent was lengthened <del rend="strikethrough">by</del>
                        &lt;with&gt; <hi rend="ital">provoking</hi> art<note n="1" place="foot" resp="editors">Insertion in the margin of the poem [possibly in another
                            hand] ‘gross <del rend="strikethrough">xxxx</del> &amp;
                        vulgar’.</note>
</l>
<l rend="indent3"> By steps that led but to a wearying path</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Round the whole structure, then another flight,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Another road all round, &amp; thus a third,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And yet a fourth, lengthening the long ascent.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Lo now, Coanocotzin cried, thou seest</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The cities of this widely peopled plain;</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And wert thou on yon farthest temple top,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yet as far onward wouldst thou see the land</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Well-husbanded like this &amp; full of men.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> They tell me that two floating palaces</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Brought thee &amp; all thy people: when I sound</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The Trumpet of the God, ten cities hear</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Its voice, &amp; answer to the call in arms.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> In truth I felt my weakness, &amp; the view</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Had wakend no unreasonable fear,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But that a nearer sight had stirrd my blood,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> For on the summit where we stood, four Towers</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Were piled with human skulls, &amp; all around</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Long files of human heads were strung to parch</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And whiten in the sun. What then I felt</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Was more than natural courage, twas a trust</l>
<l rend="indent3"> In more than mortal strength, &amp; faith in God,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> An inspiration from him. I exclaimd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Not tho ten cities ten times told obeyd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The King of Aztlans bidding, should I fear</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The power of man!</l>
<l rend="indent5"> Art thou then more than man?</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He answerd, &amp; I saw his tawny cheek</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Lose its life colour as the fear arose – </l>
<l rend="indent3"> Nor did I undeceive him from that fear,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> For sooth I knew not how to answer him,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And therefore let it work. till we had reachd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The court, no word Coanocotzin spake,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And I too went in silent thoughtfulness,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But then, when save Lincoya there was none</l>
<l rend="indent3"> To hear our speech, again did he renew</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The query. Stranger art thou more than man</l>
<l rend="indent3"> That thou shouldst set the power of man at nought?</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> Then I replied, two floating Palaces</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Bore me &amp; all my people oer the seas.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> When we departed from our mother land</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The Moon was newly born, we saw her wax</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And wane, &amp; witnessed her new birth again,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And all that while, alike by day &amp; night</l>
<l rend="indent3"> We travelled thro the Sea, &amp; caught the Winds</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And made them bear us forward. We must meet </l>
<l rend="indent3"> In battle, if the Homen are not freed</l>
<l rend="indent3"> From your accursed tribute, thou &amp; I,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> My people &amp; thy countless<del rend="strikethrough">ss</del> multitudes.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Your arrows shall fall from us as the hail</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Leaps on a rock, &amp; when ye smite with swords</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Not blood, but fire shall follow from the stroke.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Yet think not thou that we are more than men – </l>
<l rend="indent3"> Our knowledge is our power, &amp; God our strength,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> God, whose almighty will created thee</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And me, &amp; all that hath the breath of life,</l>
<l rend="indent3">
<del rend="strikethrough">And Earth &amp; Heaven</del>
</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He is our strength, – for in his name [MS obscured]</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And when I tell thee that thou shalt not shed</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The life of man in bloody sacrifice,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> It is his holy bidding that I speak;</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And if thou wilt not listen &amp; obey, – </l>
<l rend="indent3"> When I shall meet thee in the battle-field</l>
<l rend="indent3"> It is his holy cause for which I fight</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And I shall have his power to conquer thee.</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg type="stanza">
<l rend="indent3"> And thinkest thou our Gods are feeble? cried</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The King of Aztlan. dost thou deem they lack</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Power to defend their altars &amp; to keep</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The Kingdom that they gave us strength to win.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The Gods of thirty nations have opposed</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Their irresistible might, &amp; they lie now</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Conquered, &amp; caged &amp; fettered at their feet.</l>
<l rend="indent3"> That they who serve them are no coward race</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Let prove this ample realm they won in arms;</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And I, their Leader, am not of the Sons</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Of the feeble! as he spake he reachd a mace</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The trunk &amp; knotty root of some young tree,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Such as old Albion &amp; his monster brood</l>
<l rend="indent3"> From the oak forest <del rend="strikethrough">from</del> for
                        their weapons pluckd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> When father Brute &amp; Corineus set foot</l>
<l rend="indent3"> On the White Island first. lo this my club</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Quoth he, &amp; he threw back his robe – &amp; this</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The Arm that wields it! twas my fathers once –</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Erilyabs husband King Tepolomi</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He felt its weight – did I not show thee him?</l>
<l rend="indent3"> He lights me at my evening banquet! – there</l>
<l rend="indent3"> In very deed the dead Tepolomi</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Stood up against the wall, by devilish art</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Preserved, &amp; from his black &amp; shrivelled hand</l>
<l rend="indent3"> The steady lamp hung down.</l>
<l rend="indent7"> My spirit rose</l>
<l rend="indent3"> At that abomination. I exclaimd</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Thou art of noble nature, &amp; full fain</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Would I in friendship plight my hand with thine,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> But till that body in the grave be laid,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Till thy polluted altars be made pure,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> There is no peace between us. May my God,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Who tho thou knowst him not is also thine,</l>
<l rend="indent3"> And after death will be thy dreadful Judge;</l>
<l rend="indent3"> May it please him to visit thee, &amp; shed</l>
<l rend="indent3"> His mercy on thy soul. but if thy heart</l>
<l rend="indent3"> Be hardened to the proof – come when thou wilt</l>
<l rend="indent3"> I know thy power, &amp; thou shalt then know mine.<note n="2" place="foot" resp="editors">At morning...know mine: Verse written in
                            double columns. With minor corrections, these lines were published as
                                <title>Madoc</title> (1805), Part 1, Book 6.</note>
</l>
</lg>
<p rend="indent5"> ____________</p>
<p rend="indent1"> The poem on Sir James Mackintosh<note n="3" place="foot" resp="editors">Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832; <title>DNB</title>), writer
                        and politician, was knighted on 21 December 1803 and sailed for India on 14
                        February 1804 to take up a post as Recorder of Bombay. Southey’s poem does
                        not seem to have survived, if it was written.</note> in my next. let the
                    “worthy Knight”<note n="4" place="foot" resp="editors">The Knight in Geoffrey
                        Chaucer (c. 1343-1400; <title>DNB</title>), <title>The Canterbury
                            Tales</title>, ‘General Prologue’, line 43.</note> die when he will he
                    will never have a better epitaph.</p>
<p rend="indent1"> You must give me credit for the costume. I assume nothing but
                    this – that the Azteca were in the same degree of refinement as Cortes<note n="5" place="foot" resp="editors">Hernan Cortes (1485-1547), conqueror of
                        Mexico in 1519-1521.</note> found their descendants at Mexico. In every
                    trait of manners I shall produce vouchers. It was very wise in the Scotch
                    Reviewers to say there was no invention in Thalaba<note n="6" place="foot" resp="editors">
<ref target="people.html#JeffreyFrancis">Francis
                            Jeffrey’s</ref> review of <title>Thalaba the Destroyer</title> (1801) in
                            <title>Edinburgh Review</title>, 1 (October 1802), 63-83.</note> because
                    the manners &amp; superstitions existed – they might have gon[Ms obscured]
                    further for the proof &lt;&amp; have&gt; attributed all the originality to the
                    inventor of the Alphabet, for certain[MS obscured] it could not have been
                    written without those materials.</p>
<p rend="indent1"> Shall I send more? or are you again occupied in the glorious
                    fatigues of war? – If these fortification schemes<note n="7" place="foot" resp="editors">The government had consented in August 1803 to build
                        fortifications overlooking the port of Dover and a series of Martello towers
                        on the coast of Kent and Sussex.</note> go on I shall grow ashamed of my
                    country &amp; begin to wish myself an American or a Russian<note n="8" place="foot" resp="editors">Both the USA and Russia were neutral in
                        1803-1804.</note> – to look on with hope – instead of looking back with
                    shame.</p>
<closer>
<salute rend="indent1"> God bless you.</salute>
<signed rend="indent2"> R S.</signed>
<date when="1803-12-31">Thursday. </date>
</closer>
</div>
</body>
</text>
</TEI>
