1848. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 1 January 1811 ⁠* 

Keswick. Jan^y 1. 1811.

My dear Grosvenor

This is an unlucky interference of Scott’s, & one of which I was afraid, after the manner in which he reviewed the Cid. [1]  It is clear from your account that in this, as well as in the former instance, he has not seen any thing that lies below the surface. [2]  The best thing that could be done (for as for setting any thing of his aside, – that is out of the question) would be to interpolate it with one paragraph, written to point out the moral grandeur of the fable, which then <& how it> becomes of universal interest & application, founded as it is upon a particular superstition, – & also to show the value of works of high imagination, in taking us out of ourselves, & busy busying the mind about something which is not connected with the ordinary passions & pursuits of life. – xx Sharon Turners wife [3]  said of Kehama that she “felt it elevate her conceptions, & occasion an excitement of mind which made her feel superior to herself.” This is precisely what it ought to do. – Insert some thing to this purport & rescue me from the imputation of having written a poem of 5000 lines for the purpose of teaching Hindoo mythology. You will thus prevent his reviewal from being detrimental, – & your own will be serviceable wherever you can get it inserted, which I suppose you can do in the B. Critic. [4]  This I think Gifford will have no objection to do, any more than he had to render justice to that good horse Bavian. [5]  The rest must pass, & I can with perfect sincerity take the will to serve me for the deed in my friend Scott, who I verily believe would serve me to the utmost of his power, & who I do not think has <has not> one atom of envy in his nature.

You ask me about the Bristol Alderman. [6]  – it is not precisely a portrait tho written in consequence after I had accidentally fallen in with the funeral of a worthy of that description. Take it as the representative of a whole class not as individual satire. The operation of cutting an artificial artificial iris was performed upon Rushton, [7]  a bookseller & poet at Liverpool, by a surgeon at Manchester whose name I believe was is Gibson. [8]  Rushton had been blind about 20 years, & had undergone three fruitless operations before he came under his hands. It was done twice; the first time an inflammation came on & the opening on the cornea clo was closed up. It was repeated, & he beheld for the first time the faces of his wife & children. – The success was compleat, & he reads a large print with ease.

If an occasion can be made of giving you a commission to D Manuel Abella I will lay hold on it. Do you I pray you bespeak for me an acquaintance with Blanco, who has a right to whitewash his name into its original English or Irish, – his father or grandfather having been a British subject. [9]  I suppose his animosity to the Supreme Junta has made him overlook the mischief which James Moore has done to the Spaniards, [10]  otherwise I confess that house is the last place in London where I should expect to meet a Spanish patriot.

I am sorry to hear of your mothers sufferings. My excellent old friend Mrs Danvers was tormented in a similar manner for some years, by a complaint which was supposed to be pruritus anilis, [11]  – but proved at last to be literally nothing but the itch. How it should have reached her was utterly inexplicable, – it yielded of course to the first proper application, – but she suffered grievously from it before its nature was suspected. It is well the mercurial disease is giving way. Weak you must needs be, but I hope the main evil in the side has been subdued, & then time will do the rest. I long to hear that the lime water is to give place to port wine, – which in cases of debility I hold to be an especial corroborant, & pleasant to boot.

Should you see Coleridge tell him we wish to hear from him, & ask him when we may expect to see him again. [12]  – Concerning the chair & the desk never let it be an occasion of trouble to you, – only bear them in mind when an opportunity lies in your way of looking for them. [13]  Keep your <up> your spirits the best you can. You have one bright point of view in your family prospect as far as relates to Henry, who is in himself, & I doubt not will be in his fortunes all you could wish him.

God bless you my dear Grosvenor

RS.

The children are recovered thank God. Herberts proved a third attack of the croup.