3710. Robert Southey to
[Herbert Hill](people.html#HillHerbertUncle),
5 August
1821Address: To/ The Reverend Herbert Hill/ Streatham/ Surrey.
Stamped: KESWICK/298
Postmark: 10 o’Clock/ AU. 8/ 1821 F Nn; E/ 8 AU 8/ 1821
MS: Keswick Museum and
Art Gallery, WC 210. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished. Sunday 5. Aug. 1821 Mr Philip HewittPhilip Hewett (1799–1879), clergyman,
Rector of Binstead 1833–1879; fifth son of General Sir George Hewett, 1st Baronet (1750–1840; DNB). left a
letter at my door on Friday, from [Sir Thomas Acland](people.html#AclandThomasSir). I called upon him
yesterday & left a card. Tomorrow I go from home for a fortnight, & as soon as I return I shall ask him to dinner, letting him
know that both his introductions are good. I am going with the two Ediths[Edith](people.html#FrickerEdith) and [Edith May
Southey](people.html#SoutheyEdithMay). & [Cuthbert](people.html#SoutheyCharlesCuthbert) to [Netherhall](places.html#Netherhall), – [Senhouses](people.html#SenhouseHumphrey) abode. the
solar of his family from the time of Edward 2.Edward II (1284–1327;
King of England 1307–1327; DNB). & God knows how long, before but part of the existing house is known to
have been standing in his reign. It is close by the town of Maryport, which grew up on the estate, in his fathers time.Humphrey Senhouse (c. 1731–1814), MP for Cockermouth 1786–1790, MP for Cumberland
1790–1796.Xxx My reason for going is that [Edith May](people.html#SoutheyEdithMay) &
[Cuthbert](people.html#SoutheyCharlesCuthbert) may have the chance of sea bathing, – the latter for a
roughness of the skin (otherwise he is in fine condition –) the former not for a disease of the skin alone but for a sort of general
ailment, which I do not perceive without some apprehension, tho she has no specific complaint. Change of air however is of all things
the most likely to be beneficial. – [Netherhall](places.html#Netherhall) is a house where we feel at home:
& there are some good books there, collected a century ago by a Bishop of Carlisle,Sir
George Fleming, 2nd Baronet (1667–1747; DNB), Bishop of Carlisle 1734–1747. He was the grandfather, rather than the
uncle, of Humphrey Senhouse (c. 1731–1814). who left them to his nephew, Senhouse’s father. Among them is a set of the
Magdenburg Centuriators,Ecclesiastica Historia, Integram Ecclesiae Christi ideam,
Quantum ad Locum, Propagationem, Persecutionem, Tranquillitatem, Doctrinam, Hæreses, Ceremonias, Gubernationem, Schismata,
Synodos, Personas, Miracula, Martyria, Religiones Extra Ecclesiam, & Statum Imperii Politicum Attinet, Secundum Singulas
Centurias, Perspicuo Ordine Complectens: Singulari Diligentia & Fide ex Vetustissimis & Optimis Historicis, Patribus,
& Aliis Scriptoribus Congesta: Per Aliquot Studiosos & Pios Viros in Urbe Magdeburgicâ was the work of group of
scholars who became known as the Centuriators of Magdeburg because the work was divided into centuries. It was published
1559–1574. – the only one I ever saw, & a copy of old Capgrave.John Capgrave
(1393–1464; DNB) published various saints’ lives. His best-known work was Abbreviacion of Cronicles. – This
mention of rare books reminds me to tell you that I purchased yesterday Wilsons Arte of Rhetorique 1553 (from Graftons press)Thomas Wilson (1524–1581; DNB), The Arte of Rhetorique, for the Use of all
suche as are Studious of Eloquence, Sette Forth in English (1553), no. 3127 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.
The book was printed by Richard Grafton (c. 1511–1572; DNB), King’s Printer 1547–1553. at a stall in [Keswick](places.html#Keswick) market place, the man charging 5.6 for it because it was ‘very ancient.’ It is
the greatest prize I ever met with in England, except the 400 Preguntas of my Lord the Admiral & the replies of his worthy friend
Fray Luys d’Escobar:Luis de Escobar (c. 1475–1552/1553), Las Quatrocientas Respuestas a
Otras Tantas Preguntas (1550–1552), no. 3373 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library; a series of questions posed by
Fadrique Enriquez (c. 1465–1538), Admiral of Castile, and the answers of Escobar, a Franciscan friar.
I am <not> sure whether I have written to you since a notification arrived that they have made me a member of the
Massachusetts Historical Society.The Massachusetts Historical Society (founded 1791) is the
oldest historical society in the United States. It is based in Boston and collects and preserves documents on American
history. – [One of my Boston acquaintance](people.html#TicknorGeorge) (I have some very valuable
ones there) tells me I may look for a packet of books which he has sent me: among them xxxx is the second series of their
Historical Collections,Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, from the
Commencement in 1792 to 1823 (1806–1823), no. 1819 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. intended to
compleat my set; but as I happen to have already compleated it, I will ship off the duplicates to you, with Warburton, [Landors](people.html#LandorWalterSavage) volume which he intended for you, – & any other duplicates which I may
happen to have.Letters from a Late Eminent Prelate to One of His Friends
(1808), the letters of William Warburton (1698–1779; DNB), Bishop of Gloucester 1759–1779, to Richard Hurd
(1720–1808; DNB), Bishop of Worcester 1781–1808; and Landor’s Idyllia Heroica Decem Phaleuciorum Unum Partim
jam Primo Partim Iterum atq Tertio Edit Savagius Landor (1820), no. 1598 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s
library. – And the Val: Lucideno, when I have done with it.Manuel Calado
(1584–1654), Valeroso Lucideno e o Triunfo da Liberdade (1648).
I grudge money spent in bookbinding, as you do, – more than any other: but both in your case & in mine this is not
saying much. There is a man at Ulverstone to whom I can trust valuable books, & he does something for me every year.Possibly John Soulby (b. 1795), who succeeded his father, John Soulby (1771–1817) in the
business. I shall send him my Arte of Rhetorique.
My additions to the first vol. of the BrazilThe second edition of the first
volume of the History of Brazil (1822). are almost compleated they add about one tenth to its bulk, & have
cost me a great deal of time, but it has been very satisfactorily expended.
I had not heard of Mr SealysRichard Sealy (c. 1752–1821),
Lisbon merchant and father of Henry Herbert Southey’s first wife, had died at Lisbon on 11 July 1821. death, – & am very
sorry to hear of BurnsWilliam Burn (1750–1821) was a friend of the Southeys from their days in
Portugal. A member of the Lisbon Factory, he was well known to Herbert Hill and John May, and first met Southey in Lisbon in 1796.
He had moved to London in 1806. condition
[Frere](people.html#FrereJohnHookham) is absent at an unlucky time for me. – I have printed
320 pages: & I take to [Netherhall](places.html#Netherhall) materials for a Chapter.Chapter 10, History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 425–525, on
events in Portugal June–August 1808. My shoulder is now set fairly to the wheel, & I shall not be long in getting thro
the volume.
[Lord Lonsdale](people.html#LowtherWilliam) tells me that [Wynn](people.html#WynnCharlesWW) would have been brought into administration this session – if a situation high enough
could have been found for him.Negotiations had started in June 1821 to bring the followers of
Lord Grenville, including Wynn, over to the government. Wynn was their most prominent spokesman in the House of Commons, and it was
always intended he would receive a Cabinet post. However, Wynn wished to be Home Secretary or Secretary for Ireland and for there to
be a wider reshuffle, including moves to include some Whigs. He did not finally take up the post he had initially been offered,
President of the Board of Control, until January 1822.[Lord Grenville](people.html#GrenvilleLord)
wishes three of his friends to be provided for, Freemantle, Frankland Lewis,William Henry
Fremantle (1766–1850), MP for various seats 1806–1827 and whip of Lord Grenville’s supporters in the House of Commons. He became a
Commissioner at the Board of Control 1822–1826, and then Treasurer of the Household 1826–1837. Thomas Frankland Lewis (1780–1855),
MP for various seats 1812–1834 and 1847–1855. A supporter of Lord Grenville, he was made a member of the Irish Revenue Commission on
15 June 1821, the first public sign of a possible juncture between the Grenvillites and the government, and held a variety of posts
down to 1830. & [CWWW](people.html#WynnCharlesWW). – I infer from what [Ld L.](people.html#LowtherWilliam) said that [W.](people.html#WynnCharlesWW) will succeed to
Lord Sidmouth,Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (1757–1844; DNB), Prime
Minister 1801–1804, Home Secretary 1812–1822. whenever the ChancellorNicholas
Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley (1766–1851; DNB), Chancellor of the Exchequer 1812–1823. will let Lord S. resign.
–
Love to [my Aunt](people.html#HillCatherine) & the children
God bless you RS.