3261. Robert Southey to Herbert Hill, 8 March 1819 ⁠* 

Keswick. 8 March. 1819

One copy of the Grandes de Portugal, – & with ms additions, [1]  some in the body of the work, & some on a separate form, – containing the Dukes of Braganza & Beja. [2] 

Seabras book [3]  by the first opportunity, – but I fear none will offer before I pack up my own trunk, – which will be about the very end of April. – Wesley [4]  is so far from being finished, that the printer has not begun upon the second volume, – – & I must let it stand during my absence from home, – as a less inconvenience than that of postponing my journey two or three months.

Murray sent me down Dallas’s book with a reply to it under the title of a History of the Jesuits. [5]  It would be difficult to say which of the two is the most prejudiced & unfair. In other respects Dallas’s is the worst, being written with the least possible knowledge of the subject. Dallas I have formerly seen & have had some correspondence with him not long since about a book which his son published [6]  – this younger D. had been a Commissary in Spain, & instead of relating what he saw in a plain trustworthy manner, chose to embody his knowledge in the shape of a novel. Felix Alvares is the name of the book & it is worth looking at, for the manners are faithful, & a great many anecdotes of the war are mixed up with a story which tho very slight is utterly improbable, & suffices to spoil what would else have been a valuable work.

Constable [7]  the bookseller has purchased the MSS concerning which Gooden wrote to me, [8]  – & it is to remain in Goodens hands till I have made use of it, which is very civil in Constable. Gooden has been of great use to me, – indeed in the course of this opus operosissimum [9]  a great many God-sends in the way of information have turned up. – The chapter of which I now send the beginning will comprize all the remaining narration down to 1807. [10]  Then I enter upon a general view of the state of Brazil at that time, [11]  – were I to thxx <put> this into the Q. R. which would require no other alteration than that of a head piece & a finale; – I should get 100 £ for it, – which will be more than I shall get for the whole volume for two or three years, – & half as much (perhaps more) than <as> I shall ever get for it, – perhaps more. But tho this is a temptation to one whose ways & means are in no better a state than mine, it would injure a work on which I may be well content to rest for reputation, if I should never compleat any of my other meditated histories.

What Murray can Murdoch [12]  mean? The Editor of Bruce, who was the African Murray & Abyssinian scholar, is dead. [13]  – It is vexatious that I have never got sight of Murdochs books.

They go on tolerably well in my Ladys chamber. The Dutch have a comical name for godfathers & godmothers, – they call them Peters & Meters. By the joint desire of Wynn & Bedford who are the Peters on this occasion the name of Charles is to be prefixed to Cuthbert, – but he will be called Cuthbert. – Sir G. Beaumont offered himself, – I have had a very kind note of congratulation from Lord Kenyon, whom I never saw but once, but who sends me civil messages thro D^r Bell.

Have you been to see the German Horse? [14]  I am delighted with the invention, & if they <it> answers shall certainly send one down to Keswick, & indeed if I had but a companion I could find in my heart to travel xxx back upon it

Love to my Aunt. God bless you

RS.