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Massachusetts Historical Society. ALS; 3p. (c). . Not previously published.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
All quotation marks and apostrophes have been changed: " for “," for ”, ' for ‘, and ' for ’.
Any dashes occurring in line breaks have been removed.
Because of web browser variability, all hyphens have been typed on the U.S. keyboard.
Dashes have been rendered as a variable number of hyphens to give a more exact rendering of their length.
Southey's spelling has not been regularized.
Writing in other hands appearing on these manuscripts has been indicated as such, the content recorded in brackets.
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I have had an uneasy doubt upon my mind whether I had written to
thank you for your Lyrical Dramas, or not.
Excuse me, for what was the effect of hurry, not of intentional or conscious neglect.
I read your volume with much pleasure, & those of my family who
are old enough to be readers were much pleased with it also. Few volumes contain such
specimens of sweet & unaffected versification, – of language easy & natural,
of fancy always active where it ought to be, & of feeling which is always right.
And no volume could ever convey a more impress upon the reader a more
favourable opinion of the author.
The Quarterly Review has a very mischievous effect incidentally upon those books which it does not notice. This ought not to be the case, because its notice is capricious. It sometimes brings forward things which will be left in the shade, & more frequently neglects others that are well deserving of praise.
I have myself for some years found it necessary to resolve against
criticizing reviewing any contemporary poetry. On a very few occasions
(the present <is> one) I have regretted the necessity of declaring this resolution –
But in how many instances has it served me in good stead, & afforded me the only
reply which could be made which without inflicting pain, or giving
offence!
Remember me to Mr Conder. I have behaved very ill to him, – & if I
were to speak of good intentions, he would perhaps remember what such things are said
to serve for in the other world.