3805. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 25 February [1822]

Address: To/ J Rickman Esq^re
Endorsement: RS to JR 25 Feby
MS: Huntington Library, RS 429. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: This letter shortly pre-dates that of 27 February [1822], and refers to the government’s proposal of 15 February 1822 to repeal the malt tax.

My dear R.

It is by Longmans desire that I return these proofs under your cover.

⁽¹⁾

Proofs for the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

I conclude of course that you understand this, & that he knows the favour is done to him. – They will not carry back with them the ill-luck which they brought, – for they came with the black post office mark ‘not put in till the 23^d,” – whereby the revenue.

Thank you for the Pop. Abstract.

⁽²⁾

1821 Census, ‘Abstracts of the Answers and Returns: Enumeration Abstract’, Parliamentary Papers (1822), XV.

How much better would it have been to have appropriated a million a year for transporting emigrants, than to have repealed a tax, which the public did not feel, & for which ministry will get nothing but insults from their opponents, – well deserved by such weakness.

⁽³⁾

On 15 February 1822 the government had announced its proposal to repeal the malt tax, thus reducing its income by between £1 million and £1.5 million p.a.

So Willy is gone to Laleham.

⁽⁴⁾

William Rickman (1812–1886), Rickman’s son, was a pupil at Thomas Arnold’s (1795–1842; DNB) school at Laleham, near Staines.

You could not have placed him at a better school of that kind.

The population gives one much to think of – I cannot account for the great difference in the rate of increase in different countries, where there is no difference of circumstances sufficient to explain it.

God bless you
RS.

25 Feb^y.

Notes

1. Proofs for the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]

2. 1821 Census, ‘Abstracts of the Answers and Returns: Enumeration Abstract’, Parliamentary Papers (1822), XV.[back]

3. On 15 February 1822 the government had announced its proposal to repeal the malt tax, thus reducing its income by between £1 million and £1.5 million p.a.[back]

The Collected Letters of Robert Southey: Part Seven