3527. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 16 August 1820⁠* 

Keswick. 16 Aug. 1820

My dear Wynn

It seems very strange that the Duke of Gloucester [1]  should give you information of any projects or intentions of mine. The state of the case is this. M^rs Hastings being very desirous that a life of her husband should be written & a selection made from his papers, [2]  consulted Sir George Dallas [3]  about it, & he proposed Sir James Macintosh [4]  as a person of distinguished talents, high reputation, & conversant with Indian affairs. – tho there might be an objection to him as being possibly disposed to think with M^r Fox on that, as on other subjects. M^rs Hastings however desired that enquiry might be made whether I would undertake it, because she knew what her husbands opinion of me had been, & that he would have preferred me for such a task to any other person. Sir G. D. spoke to Murray, & two or three days only before I left town Murray asked me the question. I saw at once that the splendour of the subject, – the extent & variety of matter which it included, & in what manner it might be arranged: & having a vague knowledge of the leading facts of Hastings life, but a great admiration of his talents, & of all that I had heard of him in his private character, & believing that moreover that he been vilely persecuted, I expressed a willingness to the business. My place in the Mail was taken at this time, & all my arrangements made accordingly. On the morning of my departure Murray went with me to Sir G Dallas’s. There I learnt that the materials were as ample as could be desired, – the most important being a journal which kept by Hastings, I believe, from the time when he first went to India. Sir G. afterwards called at my brothers & left word written on his card that M^rs H. wished particularly to see me the next day – but this could not be – for I had engagements at Birmingham, & was to meet my Aunt Southey there on her way from Taunton. So there the matter ended, – except that Murray has sent me down a parcel of books for preliminary reading, & that I hold myself engaged to it as soon as the Hist: of the War [5]  is compleated.

I have no fear of the labour, & none of any difficulty in writing with perfect integrity: if indeed I had any such apprehension I would at once decline the task. It is a noble subject, – & admits of in perfection of that ornamental relief which is always delightful to meet with, & which I delight in introducing. – If it extends to two quartos (as I suppose it will) I shall have two thousand guineas. – If things go on quietly & I live & do well, there is a fair prospect of my realizing five thousand pounds in the next five years.

I am as little fond of prophesying evil as you are, – mine indeed is a chearful nature, & I hardly know what it is to despond. With regard to the present crisis [6]  my best ground of hope indeed is not of the pleasantest kind, – it being simply this that xx things must be worse before they can be better, – & that the sooner the abscess breaks the more strength will there be in the constitution to struggle thro the disease. We are already under the tyranny of the Press, – & that tyranny must inevitably destroy itself, – the question how much or how little evil we must go thro before that good end is arrived at is a momentous question <concern> to the present generation. We must hope the best, & do the best we can. In the present filthy business I have only to wait the event; & I shall be glad if the storm breaks while you are far from the sphere of its action for something as bad as Lord G Gordons riots [7]  may reasonably be expected. Bennet (the Wilts. B.) bill [8]  which passed thro both Houses without a single observation on either side, & perhaps was hardly known to the Ministers, certainly not thought of by them, may prove the salvation of the Government

Your godson, thank God, thrives as we could wish, – totters about with sufficient confidence & strength, articulates half words, & makes himself perfectly [MS missing] by the help of looks & gestures. He is as fine & hopeful a boy [MS missing]gs as your Watkin, [9]  & there is no saying more.

I saw Shadwell [10]  after leaving you. The Court of Kings Bench gave Ld Somerville full possession of the estates, in direct opposition to the testators intention. [11]  Had he died intestate I should still have succeeded to the Southey estates which remain unsold as his heir at law, – but he has willed them away. So be it. I can do without them. There would be a decent provision for my family were I to die this night; – a few years would enable me to make it a good one.

God bless you

RS.