2452. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 28 June 1814 ⁠* 

My dear Tom

I have sometimes been inclined to fancy, when taking perhaps a flattering view of my own temper of mind, that if our genealogy could be were revealed it would lead us back to the land of Uz, & to the house of Job. [1]  Your last letter has almost persuaded me that we are certainly Uzzites by extraction, & of Jobs own blood; for, except in his history I know not where to find any thing so patient, so mild, so truly gentle & considerate, as the strain of that epistle, – “What the Devil could he have been thinking about” you say. Putting my old friend Scratch out of the question this perhaps was rather <hasty> on your part, – for putting my old friend Scratch [2]  out of the question, I would I apparent <should have supposed thought> that a man [3]  whose father suffered a stroke of palsy at nine on Thursday night, & died at six on Saturday morning, – might very well be supposed not to be in a state of mind for thinking calmly about my odes on the xxxxxx Friday. Our ancestor in Uz would under such circumstances have forgiven a greater mistake.

It so happened th however that after having written to me he perceived that he had made a blunder, which could not have been made if his mind had not been in a xxxx <so> disturbed a state. The last ode was which reached him on the Friday, was consequently sent to Pople. all possible dispatch was used, the ode was published on the Tuesday, & according to an arrangement between Croker & Longman, sent after the former to Portsmouth, there to be by him presented to the beöded personages. [4] 

And now after your late fit of bile I recommend you by all means to take a dose of Cheltenham salts. [5] 

I received my parcel with the Odes on Sunday, – the it had been sent off on the Wednesday. A note in it informed me that in order for the sake if despatch only 250 had been thrown off, & requested corrections by return of post. There were <are> two material misprints making a wrong sense which is worse than nonsense. p 7. to the sea instead of the sun & p 18 – the breach of Tarragona instead of the beach. I had made also an unfor addition in p. 8 which was unluckily too late. after

I suppose Croker made out the titles of the Beöded in full form, for I did not, & that he entitled the odes congratulatory. And now you know as much about them as I do: – having I suppos dare say received your parcel as soon as I did mine.

I think Lord Cochranes sentence too severe. [7]  it will probably not be inflicted, & in my judgement ought not to have been passed, the offence not being one of those for which a specific punishment has been appointed & no discretion left in pronouncing it. Of course he will persist in his denial; – it is a symptom of grace in him, – & after what has past the choice lay between stiffly braving the clear conviction, – or shooting himself. Nothing can be clearer than his guilt; but the proper consequences of expulsion, loss of honour & of his commission fall heavily enough without anything of greater ignominy. Were I the Prince the pillory & the imprisonment should be instantly remitted; in doing this his former services & his rank in the navy might be so referred to as to produce a good effect. The Prince wants popularity & wants advisers to show him xx how easily it may be obtained. As for the Princess [8]  she is equally impudent & mischievous.

The 22^d book of Roderick [9]  may probably be finished tonight. The poem runs to 25 & will very speedily be compleated, – if there be no interruption. – Mrs C & Sara went yesterday to Netherhall. We are all well except Isabel who is very poorly today with teething & a cough.

Love to Sarah – God bless you

RS.

Tuesday 28 June 1814. Keswick.