2115. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 16 June 1812 ⁠* 

My dear Grosvenor

My letter which past yours on the road, will have told you that I shall be from home during the middle of July. My movement depends upon Danvers, from whom I have not heard since, – but at any rate I shall certainly & sans doubt xx return by the first of August, & you had better make your arrangements to travel with Blanco, & for the sake of seeing sights by the way take the road of Oxford, Ludlow & Chester, in which case you may give his Honour a call en passant, if he be in the country, as probably he will. I hope Henry will come with you, he will enjoy himself far more than he did last time, now that you are a sound man. – The Brownes are at Ludlow, which is a place worth going a days journey to see, the Castle being one of our finest ruins.

This year I cannot look at Scotland, but I will my hands are too full. Look how my affairs stand. I am in the midst of the Regency debates [1]  & (God be thanked – ) within three days of the end of the Register. Then comes the Quarterly to which I must go dens et unguis. [2]  Then have I to finish the Life of Nelson [3]  x contracted for by Murray more than two years ago, & only a third part done: – this however when it becomes the order of the day will soon be compleated. Then the Book of the Church [4]  likewise agreed for with him, – this also may be a months work, & will probably be one of my most best performances. I expect to do this, & finish the Omniana, [5]  & get on a good spell with my hist: of Brazil, [6]  before the Register is called for again, [7]  – supposing (which is always a matter of uncertainty) that it answers well enough to induce the publishers to continue it. Its failure would be a serious evil to me, for tho it gives me six months full & close employment, those six months are employed to more profit than the whole twelve months could be in any other manner. In fact while it lasts, & I am able to x xxxx perform my part, it gives me as much as I want. But between ourselves I doubt its continuance, & should not be displeased to receive a pressing letter from Ballantyne urging me to set forward with the fourth volume.

Croker has written me a very friendly letter, inclosing his correspondence with Lord Hertford concerning that good ship the Historiographer to which he would fain have had me appointed. [8]  It seems he applied to Lord Liverpool & Ryder, [9]  & then got at the Chamberlain thro Ld Yarmouth. [10]  Scott wrote to Ld Melville, [11]  – so there was no want of good will, nor of applications. The best part of his account is that the salary is 200 £ – I had always believed it 400, from your report, & inasmuch as it falls short am the less disappointed. Stanier Clarke [12]  is of course chosen by the Prince himself. It is a pity he is such that so much industry should be thrown away upon a man so little able to direct it for he is a most extraordinary blockhead. Do look at my review in the 2^d vol. of the Annual of his Hist: of Maritime Discovery, [13]  – the very worst book I ever saw or at least of all books the one which evinced the greatest want of good sense in the author. Among other blunders not less curious he gave a Portugueze King a Jew physician for his Confessor. [14]  I dare say he will not be idle, & whatever he brings out, tho it will disgrace the title inevitably (for there is no cure for being a blockhead), will yet be something gained in the way of documents.

I wish Canning & Wellesley could have been joined the ministry, but would rather have the present men without them, than them without Ld Liverpool & the Sidmouths [15]  who have long been had my good wishes & opinion. Any thing but Any thing rather than the Gregres. [16]  If you do not understand that admirable name, compounded of the initial letters of Grey & Grenville, look in any book about the Gold Coast for an account of the rubbish which the negroes worship, & you will find that gregre is the name of a brainless God – in French gris-gris.

I owe Gifford a letter of thanks, but it must wait till I make it a letter of business. – I had nearly forgotten to beg you would tell him that if he will send me either the MS. or the proofs of Blancos article, [17]  I will x very gladly comment upon it, – if he wishes it. With me the subject stands over for next years Register, because the 2^d vol. of the Debates of the Cortes was not printed in time. [18] 

If you get my money before you are leaving town, Rickman can get it franked, in want of a franker in ordinary. I hope you will establish a new communication in Downing Street if Vansittart [19]  should continue Brooksbank [20]  there.

God bless you

RS.

Keswick. June 16. 1812.