2105. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 29 May 1812

2105. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 29 May 1812 ⁠*

My dear R.

The old French historiographer is dead in ill-timed hour. [1] The inclosed is upon this business. The office is in the Lord Chamberlains gift. I have written to Lord Lonsdale, & Sir G. Beaumont – & Bedford has in this packet a letter which Gifford will deliver to Canning if he thinks it had not better at this time be put in the fire. Croker has already applied for me at Wynns desire. And now I have done all I can do. Had Mr Perceval been living there would have been little doubt of my success.

RS.

May 29. 1812.

Notes

* Address: To/ John Rickman Esq^r
Endorsement: RS./ 29 May 1812
MS: Huntington Library, RS 188. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] Louis Dutens (1730–1812; DNB), a French Protestant who had held the post of Historiographer Royal, had died on 23 May 1812. Southey’s campaign for the post proved unsuccessful and it went to one of his particular bêtes noires, James Stanier Clarke (c. 1765–1834; DNB). BACK