2122. Robert Southey to John Wilson Croker, 8 July 1812

2122. Robert Southey to John Wilson Croker, 8 July 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. July 8. 1812.

My dear Sir

While I am availing myself of your official character for the purpose of covering a communication to our friend Mr Gifford, I must at the same time return my thanks to you individually for your late kindness, which led you to take more trouble than I had anticipated. I have laid your letter [1]  aside among those which I wish to be preserved, – not because the Testimonic Vir: Ill. [2]  are ever likely again to come in fashion, but because my children will xxx be proud of it, when you will be better remembered as the poet than as the statesman. May you long continue to flourish in both characters.

Believe me my dear Sir

most truly & respectfully yours

Robert Southey.

Notes

* Address: To/ John Wilson Croker Esqre/ &c &c &c
Endorsement: Read
MS: Morgan Library, MA 1005. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] Croker had helped Southey in his unsuccessful campaign to become Historiographer Royal on the death of Louis Dutens (1730–1812; DNB), on 23 May 1812. BACK

[2] ‘testimony as to an illustrious man’. BACK

Addressee

Croker, John Wilson (1780–1857)

People mentioned

Gifford, William (1756–1826) (mentioned 1 time)

Places mentioned

Keswick (mentioned 1 time)
The Collected Letters of Robert Southey, Part Four
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