2305. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 20 September 1813 ⁠* 

Streatham. Sep^t 20. 1813

My dear Wynn

I was in Bedfords office when your letter arrived; its intelligence was certainly a disappointment, tho I felt it somewhat less than Dapple who does not know by experience how little the real happiness which fathers derive from their children is affected by such things. [1]  I saw also your letter about the Laurel, & you will not be sorry to hear how compleatly I had acted in conformity with your xxx opinion.

Pyes [2]  death was announced a day or two before my departure from Keswick, & at the time I thought it so probable that the not-very-desirable succession might be offered me, as to bestow a little serious thought upon the subject, as well as a jest or two. On my arrival in town Bedford came to my brothers to meet me at breakfast, – told me that Croker had spoken with him about it & he with Gifford; – that they supposed the onus of the office would be dropt, or if it were not that I might so execute it as to give it a new character, & that as detur digniori  [3]  was the maxim upon which the thing was likely to be bestowed, they thought it would become me to accept it: – my business however, at xx whatever might be my determination, was to call without delay at the Admiralty, thank C. for what was certainly intended well, & learn how the matter stood.

Accordingly I called on Croker. He had spoken to the Prince & the Prince observing that I had written “some good things in favour of the Spaniards” said the office should be given me. You will admire the reason; – & infer from it that I ought to have been made historiographer because I had written Madoc. [4]  Presently Croker meets Ld Liverpool & tells him what has past: Ld L. expressed his sorrow that he had not known it a day sooner, for he & the Marquess of Hertford had consulted together upon whom the vacant honour could most properly be bestowed. – Scott was the greatest poet of the day, & to Scott therefore they had written to offer it. The Prince was displeased at this; he, he said, ought to have been consulted, it was his pleasure that I should have it & have it I should. Upon this Croker represented that he was Scotts friend as well as mine, that Scott & I were upon friendly terms; & for the sake of all three he requested that the business might rest where it was.

Thus it stood when I made my first call at the Admiralty. I more than half suspected that Scott would decline the offer, & my own mind was made up before this suspicion was verified. The manner in which Scott declined it was the handsomest possible: nothing could be more friendly to me, or more honourable to himself. [5]  I then wrote to Croker saying that as for writing odes, like exercises, the time was past when I could do such things either with readiness or propriety; that unless I could do credit to the office, the office could do none to me; but that if it were understood this idle form was to be dropt & I were left on great public events to attempt to commemorate them in verse, or not, as the spirit moved, in that case I should willingly accept the situation as a mark of honourable distinction, which it would then become. [6]  How to effect this I left to him, as of course it was not for me to dictate terms to the Prince. This was a fortnight ago. He wrote to the Marquess of H. signifying the Prince’s pleasure that I should be appointed if the Marquess was so pleased & I suppose the signature is all that is now wanted. – It will be suggested to the Prince that a good opportunity is offered for dropping a silly custom, because during the Kings illness [7]  it has been suspended; – & that to dispense with it entirely will be for his credit as well as for mine.

Be this as it may, the light in which I now look at this business makes me very sincerely thankful for such a wind-fall. The salary paltry in itself: but it will nearly if not entirely cover a life-insurance for £3000, & to this purpose, the moment the appointment is confirmed I mean to appropriate it. I am already insured for £1000 & this A provision will thus be made for my family, sufficient with the produce of what I shall leave behind me, in addition to the value which to place them in respectable, if not in easy circumstances. My disposition is too happy a one for me ever to have felt any fears upon this subject, – I shall nevertheless feel a deep pleasure when this intention is effected, & the object secured.

Direct to me here. I shall remain in & about x town between four & five weeks longer.

God bless you

Yrs very affectionately

Robert Southey.