3876. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 July 1822

Address: To/ G.C. Bedford Esq^re/ Exchequer/ Westminster
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 30 JY 30/ 1822
Endorsements: 27 July 1822; 27 July 1822; [in pencil] Fair Sheet of Pen: War/ wanting p. 617 to p. 624/ 4.I./If proofs can be had from/ p. 1 to p 168.
MS: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Eng. lett. c. 26. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

My dear G.

It seems an age since I have seen your handwriting. You see mine for this reason; the printer has now commenced upon my concluding chapter

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which contains Sir J Moores Campaign, & I have desired that proofs may be sent to you – which you will send to Courtenay. If he has any remarks to make upon them, I will weigh them well, – & shall for the chance of receiving them, keep my proofs 48 hours instead of 24. I do not anticipate any corrections of importance but shall be glad to correct even the smallest error or inaccuracy. Time & reflection have only confirmed my first views of that miserable campaign; – & I have had very little to alter in the narrative as it was given in the Ed. An. Register

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Title, Preface & Dedication go by this post, the Ded. is to the King It is very short, but says a great deal & I expect that you will like it.

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Send me as soon as you can the remaining clean sheets.

Lightfoot departs tomorrow, & I go with him as far as Ambleside. He desires me to say that if any chance takes you into Devonshire he should be heartily glad to see you at Crediton, & talk over the events at the Duke of Portlands Installation

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God bless you
RS.

27 July 1822. Keswick.

Notes

1. Chapter 15, History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 756–806. Thomas Davison (1766–1831) was the book’s printer. The chapter concerned the British army’s retreat to Corunna in 1808–1809 under the command of Sir John Moore (1761–1809; DNB), in which Courtenay had participated.[back]

2. Edinburgh Annual Register, for 1808, 1.1 (1810), 431–459.[back]

3. History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, p. [iii]: ‘It is with peculiar fitness, as well as with pleasure, that I inscribe to your Majesty a History of the most glorious war recorded in the British annals./When the Regency devolved into your hands, the fortunes of our allies were at their lowest ebb, and neither arts nor efforts were spared for making the spirit of this country sink with them. At that momentous crisis every thing depended, under Providence, upon your single determination; and to that determination Great Britain is beholden for its triumph, and Europe for its deliverance./To your Majesty, therefore, this faithful History is offered, as a portion of the tribute due to a just, magnanimous, and splendid reign, and as a proof of individual respect and gratitude from/Your Majesty’s/Most dutiful subject and servant,/ROBERT SOUTHEY.’ The Preface was on pp. [v]–vi.[back]

4. The installation, on 1 July 1793, of William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738–1809; DNB), Prime Minister 1783, 1807–1809, as Chancellor of the University of Oxford.[back]

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3876. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 July 1822

3876. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 27 July 1822

Notes

The Collected Letters of Robert Southey: Part Seven

Lynda Pratt, Ian Packer