2110. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 8 June 1812 ⁠* 

Monday June 8 1812

My dear Grosvenor

I received a note from Lord Lonsdale on Saturday inclosing a reply from Lord Hertford to his application, – which reply states that a previous arrangement had been made for the office of Historiographer. [1]  – Thinking you would be likely to know this as soon as myself I did not write to you. – My interest was better than I expected. – upon Lord Lonsdale I had reckoned, – but Scott wrote for me to Lord Melville, [2]  & seemed to depend upon success. If Courtenay be the successful applicant I shall be malicious splenetic enough to wish you some friend would show him my historical labours in one scale & his pamphlett in another, – & then congratulate him upon his appointment. [3]  I have now done with the State Lottery. Of all the <things> possible I most desired an appointment at Lisbon, – if it had been given me when it was desired, & when it would have been honourable in Fox [4]  so to have given it, knowing as he did my motive for wishing it, it would have involved me (owing to the subsequent troubles) in pecuniary difficulties which xxx perhaps I should never have surmounted. That hope having failed I looked to that good ship the Historiographer believing myself better qualified for the post than most men, & perhaps more <than> any <other> man, ambitious of fulfilling its duties, – but that good ship it seems is still condemned <destined> to be so ill-manned as to be perfectly useless.

This evening I have a very letter from Canning couched in the most handsome & friendly terms. He does not know that the office is disposed of, but hints at difficulties in the way of his obtaining it, (even supposing he were in power) – which Gifford has explained. He concludes with expressions & professions of good will which I doubt not are sincere. But there is nothing to which I can look forward.

Say to Gifford that I must beg him to end with my article instead of beginning with it. I am close prest with the Register [5]  which this week will bring, I hope & trust, to a conclusion. Mr Ballantynes Historiographer is well paid, – but the office is no sinecure.

I have never had leisure to write to Blanco since he sent me a very satisfactory & interesting reply to some questions respecting the Junta. [6]  Tell him I have got Jovellanos’s [7]  book – Murray has sent one, – I suppose for the Quarterly. – tell him I will write to him as soon as my hands are a little eased of their immediate load, – & be sure you tell him to make his preparations for coming to me as early as he can in August.

The end of these wretched negociations & squabblings for place will be I suppose that the present ministry will keep their places, – joined I should hope by Canning. Ld Castlereagh [8]  I suppose is the obstacle to this. As for the Gregres [9]  God preserve this poor country from falling into their hands! Our situation is bad enough, at the best: under them it would be almost hopeless. They would go upon their knees to America immediately, & I doubt whether the hearty kick which Jonathan would apply to the broad bottom in that position would convince them that nothing was ever gained by a cowardly policy. Even as it is we are prating about the Orders in Council under Mr Broughams wise directions, when we ought to come out with a thundering declaration against the Congress, declaring that if this last decree of theirs be carried into xxx effect, – the first town in which they put a British seaman to death shall be laid in ashes. [10]  This I would do, & were I minister, – & I would instantly sweep their ships from the seas.

Did you receive a book of Pelayo [11]  some little time before that unhappy wretch Bellingham produced all this confusion? [12]  Never surely did any madman do so much mischief.

I wish you were here to see the country in full beauty. Your godson has just learnt to read Greek, & I expect in my next parcel a grammar & vocabulary for him. He promises well, if it please God that he should live.

I am going xxxxx in July Eastward for about a fortnight, – on a tramp with Danvers, to see my two brothers [13]  in the bishoprick: but I shall be back certainly before the end of the month, – & mention this intention now that you & the Magister Rotulorum may not be arranging your plans so as to arrive during my absence.

God bless you

RS.