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National Library of Scotland, MS 3877. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), III, pp. 177–180.
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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Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
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I have sometimes thought of publishing translations from the Spanish & Portugueze, with the originals annexed,An Nothing like the wildness or the character of our ballads is to be found among them. It is curious
& at present inexplicable to me how their prose should be so exquisitely poetical as it is in the Cid,xxxx to be <might be> tempted. Some translations I have
by me, – & many of my books are marked for others. there are some high-toned odes in the Spanish, & a good many beautiful
sonnets. Many of their epics would afford good extracts – & I am competent to givex critical bio sketches of
biography, formed not from at second hand, but from full perusal of the authors themselves. My name however is worth nothing
in the market; & the booksellers would not offer me any thing to make it worth my while to interrupt occupations of greater
importance. I thank you heartily for your offer of aid, & should the thing be carried into effect, would gladly avail myself of
it.
I am planning some thing of great importance, – a poem upon Pelayo the first Restorer of Spain; – it has long been one
of my chosen subjects & these late events which have warmed every heart that has right British blood circulating thro it, have
revived & strengthened old resolutions.
It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have done with the Edinburgh Review. Of their base article respecting
Spainbo quarters at Quintellasvery seldom had reason to find fault with it! – My blood boils to think that there
should be an English General to whom this rascal could venture to say this! – In one of the Frenchmans knapsacks, among other articles
of that property which they bargained to take away with them, was a delicate female hand with rings upon the fingers. – Our ministers
do not avail themselves as they might do of their strong cause. They should throw away the scabbard, & publish a manifesto stating
why this country never will make peace with Bonaparte, – & on what plain terms it will at any moment make peace with France under
any other ruler: I fully believe that it would be possible to overthrow his government by this means at this time.
A reviewal of my Cid by you
500 only were printed, & in spite of the temporary feeling, & the wonderful beauty of the book, I dare say they
will hang upon hand. If it sold well I should be very desirous of translating the chronicles of Fernam Lopez,
It will rejoice me to see you here, & show you my treasures, & talk of the days of the shield & the lance.
We have a bed at your service, & shall expect you to be our guest. Wordsworth who left me to day desires his re[MS torn]ances. He is about to write a pamphlet upon this preci[MS torn]
Convention,at present Thalaba at present in Ballantynes hands, that poem having just reached the end of its seven years
apprenticeship.never be popular will not deter me from gratifying my own
fancy.