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National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 4p. . Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), III, pp. 202–205.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
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It seems very strange that the Duke of Gloucesterrs Hastings
being very desirous that a life of her husband should be written & a selection made from his papers,r Fox on that, as on other subjects. Mrs Hastings however desired that enquiry might be made whether I would undertake it, because she
knew what her husbands opinion of me had been, & that he would have preferred me for such a task to any other
person. Sir G. D. spoke to Murray, & two or three days only
before I left town Murray asked me the question. I saw at once
that the splendour of the subject, – the extent & variety of matter which it included, & in
what manner it might be arranged: & having a vague knowledge of the leading facts of Hastings life, but a great
admiration of his talents, & of all that I had heard of him in his private character, & believing
that moreover that he been vilely persecuted, I expressed a willingness to the business. My place in
the Mail was taken at this time, & all my arrangements made accordingly. On the morning of my departure Murray went with me to Sir G Dallas’s. There I learnt that the
materials were as ample as could be desired, – the most important being a journal which kept by
Hastings, I believe, from the time when he first went to India. Sir G. afterwards called at my brothers & left word written on his card that Mrs H. wished particularly to see me the next day – but this could not be – for I had engagements
at Birmingham, & was to meet my Aunt Southey there on her
way from Taunton. So there the matter ended, – except that Murray has sent me down a parcel of books for preliminary reading, & that I hold myself engaged to it
as soon as the Hist: of the War
I have no fear of the labour, & none of any difficulty in writing with perfect integrity: if
indeed I had any such apprehension I would at once decline the task. It is a noble subject, – & admits
of in perfection of that ornamental relief which is always delightful to meet with, & which I
delight in introducing. – If it extends to two quartos (as I suppose it will) I shall have two thousand guineas. –
If things go on quietly & I live & do well, there is a fair prospect of my realizing five thousand pounds
in the next five years.
I am as little fond of prophesying evil as you are, – mine indeed is a chearful nature, & I
hardly know what it is to despond. With regard to the present crisisxx things must be worse before they can be better, – & that the sooner the abscess
breaks the more strength will there be in the constitution to struggle thro the disease. We are already under the
tyranny of the Press, – & that tyranny must inevitably destroy itself, – the question how much or how little
evil we must go thro before that good end is arrived at is a momentous question <concern> to the present
generation. We must hope the best, & do the best we can. In the present filthy business I have only to wait the
event; & I shall be glad if the storm breaks while you are far from the sphere of its action for something as
bad as Lord G Gordons riots
Your godson, thank God, thrives as
we could wish, – totters about with sufficient confidence & strength, articulates half words, & makes
himself perfectly [MS missing] by the help of looks & gestures. He is as fine & hopeful a boy [MS
missing]gs as your Watkin,
I saw Shadwellv. Mary Lethbridge and seven others, 27 January 1795.