926. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 20 April 1804 ⁠* 

Dear Wynn

This comes to acknowledge yours from Chester – I have nothing else as yet to communicate.

I am transcribing the first part of Madoc, designing to leave it in London with the printers, [1]  & Dapple perhaps will correct the press for me & be omnipotent over commas semicolons & periods.

Politics are indeed become very interesting. I look with rather more apprehension to the enormous extent of our East Indian empire, & the sulky selfishness of our West Indian planters, than to any effects that invasion can produce, if indeed Bonaparte does design to invade us – & if he be permitted to live to carry his design into execution. Pichegru was probably murdered. it does not appear to me a practicable mode of suicide. one convulsive motion might have slipt the stick & loosened the handkerchief, & there was a motive for murdering him. [2]  if it was dangerous to execute the Duc d Enghein [3]  by day light, it would be still more dangerous to put to death publicly men who like Pichegru & Moreau have actually saved France. [4]  You remember telling me what P. said of poor Lord Camelford, [5]  & now they are both gone, so nearly at the same time, & both so strangely!

Has M^r Gander really been doing any thing more than all Embassadors are in the habit of doing? [6]  & why are the good people of England crying out that Government must clear themselves of all share in the conspiracy – when in all times, all Governments during war have labourd by such means to overthrow each other. Witness the whole reign of Elizabeth [7]  – & the whole period from the Revolution to 1745 – & the very practice of this very country during the last war. As for the assassination of Bonaparte being part of the plot – the plot was to overthrow his power, & if when you kickd him from his throne, his neck happened to break in the fall – that was a contingency. But the follies of public opinion form a perpetual comment upon the text of straining at a gnat & swallowing a Camel! [8] 

You know I have reviewed the despicable & detestable work of Malthus on Population. [9]  By some blunder of Arthur Aikins it has also been reviewed by Wm Taylor – & I am in hope his article may have supplanted mine [10]  – for in that case I will build upon the timbers, & make a little volume. In reviewing I have merely stuck to my text & demolished a heap of sophistry – but the subject as it relates to this country is of exceeding importance, & I feel that I could produce something upon it which should deserve to be remembered hereafter.

God bless you.

Yrs affectionately

RS.

April 20. 1804

I hope to be in London before the end of the month.