1567. Robert Southey to Mary Matilda Betham [fragment], 17 January 1809 ⁠* 

Keswick. Jan^y. 17. 1809.

You make a right distinction, my dear Miss Betham, between the egotism of words & of actions. The egotism of the heart seldom reaches to the lips, – none are so intensely selfish as the race of fawners & flatterers, who always talk about you for the sake of making themselves appear amiable. Those letters are always the most interesting which are most about the writer. Am I wrong in supposing that generous minds express themselves more fully by the pen than by word of mouth, whereas a knave never lays himself open except he is thrown off his guard in conversation? – I have myself not so much a principle, as an instinct of unreservedness, – nor do I know whether I can help it or no, for I never have tr tried the experiment. My very reserve resembles the rolling itself up of a hedgehog, & is a manifestation too plain to be mistaken that I do not like my company. Yet I am sensible that I express myself more fully & more freely when writing by my own fire side, than ever I do xxxx at an after-dinner table, or in the most confidential <personal> intercourse.

In June then we hope & look to see you here. What the picture wants can easily be given it, – or rather what it has too much of can easily be taken away. [1]  Myne <face> has had none of that bloom for about seventeen years – There must be a strong Southey character about it, for every body recognizes me, but thinks more of my brother Henry. But Henry’s face has got him into so many love-scrapes that I have told him he ought not to go about without a muzzle, a precaution of which I never felt the slightest occasion myself. My skin thickened just as I ceased to be a boy, I was always lean, & at that age when men in general think of nothing but their pleasure I had so much occasion both for thought & feeling which have left their indelible stamp behind upon my strong features.

By the time you arrive my Hindoo Poem will probably be finished. [2]  Should it be compleated to my own satisfaction, I have a wish about it which I will not explain till you have seen the story, & then I think you will guess it. I promise to myself many pleasures in seeing you here, – in showing you the mountains from these windows, – in rowing you to the spot where we boil our kettle by the lake side, – in seeing you, tempted by emulation at the example of my boatwomen, take the oars in your hand instead of the pencil, – in guiding you over the mountains & into the glens, – in talking to you about your poems & telling you what you could do, – & in showing you how very happy a man may be upon very scanty means, who cares nothing for the pomps & vanities of the world, & preserves a boys heart when the grey hairs are beginning to show themselves. And in pointing out to you the house where your father lodged, & the school in which he taught, [3]  when your spirit was just ripe for this human stage of existence <being>, – for preexistence is a part of my creed.

I hope & trust one day to have an opportunity of personally thanking Lady Bedingfield. [4]  In the work which I have at present in the press there is one part which will I think equally please & displease her. It is that which relates to the Jesuits, – main actors in the history of that portion of South America which falls within my limits. [5]  Ample – most ample justice is rendered to their love of God & of man, – & I hope the sincerity & even zeal with which I have done this may atone to her for the manner in which I cannot but speak of the Catholick mythology.

My hope & faith in the Spaniards remains unshaken amid by their reverses, or f even by the far more lamentable panics & pusillanimity of our Government. The papers in the Courier signed G. upon the Cintra Convention are by Wordsworth, & will be separately published, – they express our opinions here. [6]  Were I a single man I would hasten to Spain as to a crusade, & if possible get to Zaragoza in time for the siege. [7]  Oh doubt not that that country will redeem, is redeeming itself! Even if Bonaparte bears down all opposition for a time, & conquers the country, he will not have conquered the people, – wherever the pressure of his armies is withdrawn they will rise against him, – his whole force will be required to keep them down, (even if he gets them down) & ultimately the will vengeance of God & Man will strike him there, when his work is done.

[MS torn]

me to express her thanks for the picture, & to say how glad she shall be to express them herself.

believe me

yours very truly

Robert Southey.