1600. Robert Southey to
[Thomas Southey](people.html#SoutheyTom),
14–15 March
1809
Address: To/ Lieutenant Southey,/ H. M. S. Dreadnought,/ Plymouth-Dock
Stamped:
KESWICK/ 298
MS: Bertram R. Davis Collection, University of Waterloo Library, Ontario. ALS; 2p.
Previously published:
Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 502–505.
[Keswick](places.html#Keswick).
Tuesday March 14. 1809.
My dear Tom
This evening I have sent off a book of Kehama,
The Curse of Kehama (London, 1810). Southey was sending his brother drafts of the poem via Grosvenor Charles
Bedford. & shall follow it up quickly while I fancy myself somewhat at leisure, having no immediate pressure of
employment. The 18th section is begun – one & twenty will compleat it. I feel therefore as nearly
the end of my journey as we did when we reached Lancaster on our way home, & had the mountains once more in sight. Lorrinite &
Arvalan are disposed of in Padalon, Events in Southey’s The Curse of Kehama,
Book 17. Kehama is come down just too late to save his son, – his offers to Kalyal,
Events in Southey’s The Curse of Kehama, Book 18. Ereenias appeal to Seeva, Book 19 of The Curse of Kehama. their journey to the throne of Yamen, Books 20–23 of The Curse of Kehama. & the final scene before the Throne are all that
remain to be written. Book 14 of The Curse of Kehama. And then [Tom](people.html#SoutheyTom) in what metre shall I write Pelayo?
Southey’s early name for the poem published as Roderick the Last of the Goths (1814).
The Quarterly Review has been published a fortnight. [Scott](people.html#ScottWalter) has
been the main contributor, – a good one in the lighter articles of miscellaneous literature, but in prose & poetry wherever it is
necessary to see into the life & essence of things there he fails. Scott reviewed in the
Quarterly Review, 1 (February 1809): Robert Hartley Cromek (1770–1812; DNB), Reliques of
Robert Burns, Consisting Chiefly of Original Letters, Poems, and Critical Observations on Scottish Songs (1808), 19–36;
Southey’s The Chronicle of the Cid (1808), 117–134; John Barrett (1753/4–1821; DNB), An Essay
on the Earlier Part of the Life of Swift, by the Rev. John Barrett, D. D. and Vice Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. To which
are Subjoined Various Pieces Ascribed to Swift, Two of his Original Letters, and Extracts from his Remarks on Bishop Burnett’s
History (1808), 162–177; [with [William Gifford](people.html#GiffordWilliam)] Sir John Carr
(1772–1832; DNB), Caledonian Sketches, or a Tour through Scotland in 1807 (1808), 178–193. Scott also
had a hand in William Erskine’s (Lord Kinneder; bap. 1768–1822; DNB), review of John Philpot Curran
(1750–1817), Speeches of the Right Honourable John Philpot Curran, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, on the late very
Interesting State Trials (1808), 96–107. He has made poor work of the Cid. [Turner](people.html#TurnerSharon) has written sensibly upon Sanscrit literature. Sharon Turner [with John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth (1751–1834; DNB)] reviewed Charles Wilkins (bap. 1749–1836;
DNB), A Grammar of the Sanskrîta Language (1808); William Carey (1761–1834; DNB),
A Grammar of the Sungskrit Language, Composed from the Works of the Most Esteemed Grammarians; to Which are Added Examples
for the Exercise of the Student, and a Complete List of the Dhatoos or Roots (1804); and Henry Thomas Colebrooke
(1765–1837), Grammar of the Sanskrit Language (1805), in the Quarterly Review, 1 (February 1809),
53–69. It is on the whole a respectable number. I have suffered grievously from mutilation, Southey reviewed the Periodical Accounts Relative to the Baptist Missionary Society (published from
1794); [John Scott-Waring (1747–1819; DNB)], Vindication of the Hindoos from the Aspersions of the Reverend
Claudius Buchanan, M.A. With a Refutation of the Arguments Exhibited in his Memoir, on the Expediency of an Ecclesiastical
Establishment for British India, and the Ultimate Civilization of the Natives, by their Conversion to Christianity… By a Bengal
Officer (1808); Thomas Twining (1776–1861; DNB), A Letter to the Chairman of the East India
Company, on the Danger of Interfering in the Religious Opinions of the Natives of India; and on the Views of the British and
Foreign Bible Society, as Directed to India (1807), in the Quarterly Review, 1 (February 1809),
193–226. partly inflicted to shorten what is still the longest article in the book, far more frequently for the
sake of weeding out whatever savoured of heresy, political or religious, no very easy operation to perform upon a man who weaves it in
the very warp of his discourse. I amuse myself with writing it into my own copy as carefully as [Gifford](people.html#GiffordWilliam) had cut it out. As soon as the number was published I received a letter of
flattery from [the bookseller](people.html#MurrayJohn), & a very handsome one from [Gifford](people.html#GiffordWilliam), inclosing goodly guerdon th in the shape of 21 – 13 – good pay for a
single article. I am at work upon the South Sea Missions for the second number, & shall t go to the South African in the
third. Southey reviewed Transactions of the Missionary Society in the South Sea
Islands in Quarterly Review, 2 (August 1809), 24–61, but there is no review by him of the South African
missions. If these essays be executed as much to my own liking, & with as much effect as the first, it may very probably
be advisable to republish them in a seperate volume.
I knew your motions before your letter arrived. The end of this adventure will probably be that you will blockade the
French till your hearts ache, then comes a gale which blows you off, & the F enemy escape.
I do not believe the news that Zaragoza has fallen. The second siege of
Zaragoza ended, after ferocious defence, great bloodshed, starvation and disease, in the French taking the town, on 20 February
1809. For Southey’s accounts of the affair, see the Edinburgh Annual Register, for 1808, 1.1 (1810), 306–321; and
Edinburgh Annual Register, for 1809, 2.1 (1811), 508–527. very probably it may fall, but the accounts are
not contradictory, & neither of them looks like truth. War with Austria & if not imp (with Russia too
perhaps) will do no harm by destroying what is now the worst existing government of Europe (except Sicily) – & will do good by
giving the Spaniards time. It is now March, – they will be at Madrid by Midsummer: & we might catch Joseph, Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte (1768–1844) was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte who made him King of
Spain as Joseph I in 1808. Joseph had returned to Madrid, after French troops put down a Spanish uprising, at the beginning of
1809. if ministers were not too busy in their shameful & most impudent defence of the D of Y Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763–1827; DNB), Commander in Chief of the army. He held
the post from 1798–1809, but was forced to resign in the wake of allegations that he had profited by allowing his mistress, Mary
Anne Clarke (c. 1776–1852; DNB), to accept money from army officers, in return for which promotion was
arranged. – to think of any thing else. What a kettle of stinking fish it is! – Do you remember Speddings story? John Spedding (1770–1851) of Mirehouse, the house and estate near Bassenthwaite lake , north of
Keswick. Spedding was a schoolfriend of [Wordsworth](people.html#WordsworthWilliam) at Hawkshead. For
Spedding’s story about the Clarke/York affair, see Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 28 February 1809, Letter 1590. he
never understood the whole history till it appeared in the newspapers.
Thalaba has been finished about a fortnight; The second edition of
Thalaba the Destroyer was published in 1809. in two or three weeks I expect to see it advertised, &
will then order off your copy with the Annual. Southey reviewed the following in the
Annual Review for 1808, 7 (1809): Tour Through Spain and Part of Portugal, Volume 3 of Richard
Phillips, A Collection of Modern and Contemporary Voyages and Travels (1805–1810), 56–57; Christian Augustus Fischer
(1771–1829), A Picture of Madrid: Taken on the Spot. Translated from the German (1808), 57–60; Thomas Clarkson,
The History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British
Parliament (1808), 127–148; Report of the Committee of the African Institution, Read to the General Meeting on the
15th July, 1807, Together with the Rules and Regulations which were then Adopted for the Government of the Society
(1807); Thomas Zouch (1737–1815; DNB), Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Sir Philip Sydney (1808),
224–235; Robert Drury (1687–1734?; DNB), The Adventures of Robert Drury, During Fifteen Years Captivity on the
Island of Madagascar; Containing a Description of that Island; an Account of its Produce, Manufactures, and Commerce; With an
Account of the Manners and Customs, Wars, Religion, and Civil Policy of the Inhabitants: to Which is Added, a Vocabulary of the
Madagascar Language. Written by Himself, and now Carefully Revised and Corrected from the Original (1807), 253–263; John
Finlay (1782–1810), Scottish Historical and Romantic Ballads: Chiefly Ancient with Explanatory Notes and a Glossary
(1808), 457–462; Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe (1781?-1851), Metrical Legends (1807), 473–473; Francis Douce,
Illustrations of Shakespeare, and of Ancient Manners: with Dissertations on the Clown and Fool of Shakespeare; on the
Collection of Popular Tales entitled Gesta Romanorum; and on the English Morris Dance (1807), 554–562; Charles Lamb,
Specimens of English Dramatic Poets, who Lived about the Time of Shakespeare (1808), 562–570; [Howard Luke
(1772–1864)], A Brief Apology for Quakerism, Inscribed to the Edinburgh Reviewers (1808), 354–356. This said
Annual I expect in my next parcel – on Thursday – & be it known unto you that I have the happiness of expecting three parcels! –
theres joy! one from [W Scott](people.html#ScottWalter) containing a present of the first volume of Ld
Somers’s Tracts In 1809 Scott published the first volume of Baron John Somers (1651–1716;
DNB), A Collection of Scarce and Valuable Tracts on the Most Interesting and Entertaining Subjects But
Chiefly Such as Relate to the History and Constitution of These Kingdoms, Selected from an Infinite Number in Print and
Manuscript in the Royal Libraries (1809–1815). & one from [Murray](people.html#MurrayJohn) the publisher of the Quarterly, with Vancouvers voyages which I wished to read for my article upon the S
Sea Islands. George Vancouver (1757–1798; DNB) had been a midshipman on Captain
Cook’s third voyage to Tahiti. In 1791–1795 he commanded an expedition that surveyed America’s northwest coast, wintering at Hawaii.
His record of A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and Round the World, 1791–1795 (1798) was completed by
his brother, John Vancouver (bap. 1756–1829). I am to review Ld Valencia’s Travels for the said Q. when they come out. Southey reviewed George Annesley, Viscount Valentia (1770–1844), Voyages and Travels to
India, Ceylon, and the Red Sea, Abyssinia and Egypt in the Years 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, and 1806 (1809),
Quarterly Review, 2 (August 1809), 88–126.
We thought it was all over with poor [Jackson](people.html#JacksonWilliam), – never did man
seem nearer the grave than he did ten days ago, – but there has been an inward abscess, & there is now some hopes of his
recovery, – tho I confess I am not very sanguine in this expectation. He is however materially better, – or indeed he would not now
have been alive – In the way of improvements, we have ordered stuff the same as my curtains for a bed &c in the wing room. The
bordering for the study is come, & I shall write in my next letter to [Longman](people.html#LongmanThomas)
This does not appear to have survived. for half a ream of such paper as the
Athenæum
The Athenæum, A Magazine of Literary and Miscellaneous Information (1807–1809) was edited by [John Aikin](people.html#AikinJohn) and published by [Longman](people.html#LongmanThomas). covers, to paper it with. The next operation will be to build a grand Pavillion at the back of the coal-shed,
so constructed as that the winds of Heaven may not visit ones rump too roughly which we <which> Heaven knows they do
at present, & I never heard that taking the air at that end was wholesome. I shall be glad when the edifice is erected.
Four & twenty sheets of Brazil are printed The first volume of Southey’s
History of Brazil (1810). – copy for as much more was sent off ten days ago to [my Uncle](people.html#HillHerbertUncle) ; & he as soon as he has looked it thro will send it to [Pople](people.html#PopleWilliam). For the remainder of the volume there is scarcely any thing more than mere
transcription. it will be a thick book – not less I believe than 650 pages. I have now lying on the table a portion of [Arrowsmiths](people.html#ArrowsmithAaron) great map of America,Arrowsmith’s
A Map of America (1804) depicted North and South America. to correct x as much as possible for that which
he is about to prepare for me. My map will be the best that has yet appeared of Brazil, & one as beautifully executed as
possible, – for this art is now carried to perfection. The second volume of Southey’s
History of Brazil (1817) contained Arrowsmith’s Map of Brazil and Paraguay with the Adjoining
Countries.
[Rickman](people.html#RickmanJohn) & [Capt Burney](people.html#BurneyJames),
both great map-makers take much interest in this part of my business. The [Capt.](people.html#BurneyJames)
has bespoken place in the Monthly Review for a reviewal of the Cid by [Bedford](people.html#BedfordGrosvenorCharles). Southey had asked Bedford to write a review of his Chronicle of the
Cid (1808) for the Monthly Review; see Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 28 February 1809, Letter
1590. The book was reviewed in complimentary terms in the Monthly Review, 63 (1810), 131–144.
[ Sharon Turner](people.html#TurnerSharon) performed the office in the Annual. Sharon Turner’s review of Southey’s Chronicle of the Cid (1808) appeared in the Annual Review
for 1808, 7 (1809), 91–99.
[Coleridge](people.html#ColeridgeSamuelTaylor) has promised, & probably will perform something about it
in the Courier, Coleridge did not review the Chronicle of the Cid in The
Courier. which will be of more effect than either, for no literary journal produces half the effect of a popular
newspaper. Is not [Stuart](people.html#StuartDaniel) doing his duty about the D York? Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763–1827; DNB), Commander in Chief of the
army. He held the post from 1798–1809, but was forced to resign in the wake of allegations that he had profited by allowing his
mistress, Mary Anne Clarke (c. 1776–1852; DNB), to accept money from army officers, in return for which promotion was
arranged. Stuart’s coverage in the Courier was critical of the Duke. Love from all quarters & the regular
allowance of kisses from your [eldest niece](people.html#SoutheyEdithMay) –
God bless you
RS.
Wednesday 15.