3574. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 2 December 1820⁠* 

Keswick. 2 Dec. 1820.

My dear Wynn

I received the MS.S. yesterday. [1]  As far as I have looked at it, it seems to relate to a single process of very little consequence except to the poor people concerned in it, & as they got off with the gallies, it is probable they met with nothing more than their deserts; – offences of opinion not being punished in that way.

Your last letter crossed one of mine upon the road. I do not partake your disgust at both parties; [2]  my feeling towards the one is that which one has for an honest and upright General or Admiral who commits a fatal error in judgement, – towards the other I will not trust myself to say what it is, farther than that I have never read of any faction in any age or country, acting in more basely & wickedly than the present race of Whigs. Verily they will have their reward if a Bellum Servile [3]  should break forth; – if it should be averted, or quelled at the first explosion, then they will escape with no other punishment than that of lasting infamy, which they seem incapable of feeling. I hardly thought it possible to think worse of them than I did twelve months ago. A worse symptom is the cowardice that has shown itself among better men. It is in vain to disguise from ourselves the real situation of the country. A revolution is effected. We are under the tyranny of the Press & the Mob. The popular opinion is thoroughly corrupted from Thursoe to Penzance, – & the fidelity of the troops is more than doubtful. [4]  Nevertheless I doubt not that a vigorous minister might save the country. But the age of the Cecils [5]  is over.

You see Scotts house has been attacked, – the very last man whom I <should> have thought in danger from his own neighbours. [6]  The first thing, or one of the first things needful, is a short code of xxx laws relating to mobs, & this might be done without difficulty. Mere imprisonment is not punishment sufficient for being taken in a mob, corporal punishment should be added, & in all aggravated cases transportation; – & imprisonment ought always to imply hard work, & prison diet, – wholesome but unpalatable. – With regard to the Press <sedition> you were one of the persons who would only consent to banishment upon a second conviction: [7]  – had it been enacted for the first, of what a set of incendiaries should we by this time have been rid, supposing that the same verdicts had been found which tho probably not in all instances, they would in many, & I believe in most. My dear Wynn if you & I outlive the storm, we shall outlive the liberty of the Press, & God grant that we may have no greater loss to regret. If the Press triumphs we know there is an end of its liberty; – it perishes then like the scorpion when for once he makes a good use of his sting by striking it into his own head. If on the other hand we are to escape from the imminent danger of a Jacquerie, it must be by controuling this engine of mischief, the most powerful that ever was brought into action x against the well being of society.

I believe I told you that I have begun some dialogues, taking for my motto these words from S^t Bernard Respice, aspice, prospice. [8]  I wish you were near enough to see them in progress & to talk over some of the topics. But if the fates permit I will come one of these days to a christening at Llangedwin (not sooner) that we may finish the journey which we began in 1801. [9]  – & perhaps the series will not be finished before that day comes, for I travel at a tortoise pace.

God bless you my dear Wynn

yrs most affectionately

RS.