2182. Robert Southey to John Murray, 24 November 1812

2182. Robert Southey to John Murray, 24 November 1812 *
Keswick. Nov. 24. 1812.
My dear Sir
The Spirit is moving me strongly toward the Book of the Church, [1] with which I shall make rapid progress as soon as Nelson [2] is thro the press. There is a history of the <English> Catholics by Dodd [3] which I wish you could procure for me, as I have reason to think it would afford me some materials. I do not know the exact title of the book, & x but it is a well-known book among the Catholics.
I hope my article upon the poor [4] will be in time. It is so far advanced that I shall send off the greater part of it by the end of the week. I went to it with fear & trembling, – but shall not get thro it the worse for this sense of the importance of the subject.
There is copy of Nelson ready, which I can frank up if Mr Abbott should be re-elected Speaker. [5] The papers throw some doubt upon this, – if he should not may I inclose it to Mr Croker? The manuscript will be as nearly as possible of the extent I calculated. – Would it not give the book an additional interest to have the words Horatio Nelson under the portrait given in a facsimile of his own writing? [6]
Believe me my dear Sir
yrs very truly
Robert Southey.
Send me when you have an opportunity young Mr Downmans poem, [7] which his father is very desirous that I should see.
Notes
* Address: To/ Mr Murray/ Albermale Street/ London.
Stamped:
KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 27 NO 27/ 1812
Watermark: C WILMOTT/ 1807
Endorsement: 1812 Novr 24
Keswick/ Southey R –
MS: National Library of Scotland, MS 42550. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished. BACK
[3] Hugh Tootell [pseud. Charles Dodd] (1671/2–1743), The Church History of England, from 1500 to 1688. Chiefly with Regard to Catholics (1737–1742). BACK