3912. Robert Southey to John Taylor Coleridge, 2 November 1822

 

Address: To/ J.T. Coleridge Esqre/ 2. Pump Court / Temple / London
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 5 NO 5/ 1822
Endorsement: 1822. Novr 5th/ RS. Keswick
MS: British Library, Add MS 47553. ALS; 3p.
Previously published: W. Braekman, ‘Letters by Robert Southey to Sir John Taylor Coleridge’, Studia Germanica Gandensia, 6 (1964), 125–127.

My dear Sir

It is quite necessary that the Editor of the QR. should be a person in whom Government can confide; but I have no notion that any member of the Government would be consulted in the choice, or that any pledge can be required. The truth is that Government <interferes> in such things less than for its own interest, & the interests of the country it ought to do. Upon the course to be pursued by such a Journal, you & I are perfectly agreed. – The only member of Government with whom I have any direct communication (except by accident) is Charles Wynn, – & I will without delay let him know my wishes upon the subject.

(1)

Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 2 November 1822, Letter 3913. Gifford was considering whether to retire as editor of the Quarterly Review; Southey wished John Taylor Coleridge to succeed Gifford (as he briefly did in 1824–1825).

I have written to Murray,

(2)

Southey to [John Murray], 1 November [1822], Letter 3911.

with whom the choice must rest.

What you said concerning the payment of a printers bill may perhaps rather imply need in the printer than in the bookseller. There is much competition for a great publisher’s employ; & the booksellers (who as far as I know them, have the true trading spirit, in the worst meaning of the words) – take advantage of it, so as to pay the lowest possible price, & take eighteen months credit, while they collect their own debts half-yearly. – The QR is the foundation of Murrays fortune. When he moved from Fleet Street, it was an adventure hazarded in consequence of the success of the review, & without the capital required.

(3)

Murray had launched the Quarterly Review in 1809; he moved his publishing firm from 32 Fleet Street to grander premises at 50 Albermarle Street in 1812, when he bought the business belonging to William Miller (1769–1844; DNB).

And I know that a year or two afterwards he was so much in arrears with the Courier

(4)

The Courier (1792–1842) was a London evening newspaper. Southey received a free copy through his long friendship with Daniel Stuart, its co-owner 1796–1822.

for advertising, that they would advertise for him no longer without prompt payment. At present I rather doubt his judgement as a publisher, than his prosperity. He must have lost a great deal by large prices given for bad books: & latterly the bookselling trade has suffered more by the pressure upon the gentry,

(5)

Corn prices had been falling since 1819 and reached their lowest point in 1822; this situation produced political controversy and calls from some landowners for action to help agriculture.

than any other. But the Quarterly is not affected by this in any material degree; – it is likely to gain quite as many purchasers as it may lose; & it alone, is a fortune.

Had there been any Gods in Albermarle Street, an earthquake must surely have been felt <there> or some other portentous signal – at what passed with Mawman.

(6)

Joseph Mawman (1759–1827), bookseller and author from York, who became a well-known London publisher. His firm was based in the City of London. Mawman had proposed to set up a rival journal to the Quarterly Review, edited by Southey, though this project did not materialise. Southey was, instead, campaigning for John Taylor Coleridge to take over the Quarterly Review after Gifford’s retirement.

But tho I am arrived at that age when the necessity of laying by money is felt, & tends strongly to create the love of it, I do not think any offers however advantageous, ought to withdraw me from a course of life so congenial to me in all respects, as that which I now enjoy: nor that I ought to give up more time to temporary subjects, than is necessary for supplying my ways & means. The offer may be for your consideration, if our present object fails; – but I hope it will not fail.

You ask me respecting Lingard I had sent for it <his history> with an intention of reviewing x xxx x it & Turners xx together,

(7)

John Lingard (1771–1851; DNB), A History of England: from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of Henry VIII (1819), no. 1634 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library; and Sharon Turner, History of England (1814–1823), no. 2838 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Neither book was reviewed in the Quarterly Review at this time.

– a task which may very well be transferred to you, without any inconvenience xx on my part. The book arrived only two or three days ago. I read the reign of William Rufus, which is not nearly so good as Turners, – & the Roman period, which is very well done, infinitely better than I have ever seen it done before.

(8)

John Lingard, A History of England: from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of Henry VIII, 3 vols (London, 1819), I, pp. 457–487, 1–63, on the reign of William II (c. 1056–1100; King of England 1087–1100; DNB) and the Roman involvement in Britain from 55 BC to the fifth century. Southey compares the first of these treatments with that in Sharon Turner, History of England, 3 vols (London, 1814–1823), I, pp. 108–130.

Farther I have not <yet> seen. But I have read his former publication – a history of the A-Saxon Church,

(9)

John Lingard, The Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church (1806). An edition from 1810 was no. 1728 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

which is full of sophistry, & that worst kind of falsehood which is produced by the suppression of truths. – The question of suppression in Beckets history is the subject of an Appendix to Beringtons Hist. of Henry 2d a book of great ability,

(10)

Joseph Berington (1743–1827; DNB), The History of the Reign of Henry the Second, and of Richard and John, his Sons; With the Events of the Period, from 1154 to 1216. In which the Character of Thomas a Becket is vindicated from the Attacks of George Lord Lyttelton, 2 vols (Birmingham, 1790), II, Appendix II, pp. 379–413. Appendix II defended the conduct of St Thomas Becket (c. 1119–1170; DNB), Archbishop of Canterbury 1162–1170.

which you should peruse when you set about Lingard & Turner. The course of reading is one, in which increase of appetite grows by what it feeds on. As soon as I have gone thro Lingard I will return it to Murray for your use.

We have not heard of Hartleys arrival at Ambleside.

(11)

Hartley Coleridge did not arrive in Ambleside to take up a position as a teacher until 1823.

He may probably be staying at Birmingham upon his way, – or possibly he may have got out of sight in London. I think if he had xxx known that his Mother & Sister set out on Wednesday next for the south, he would have deferred his journey to the north, for the sake of seeing them. They make visits at Derby

(12)

Sara Coleridge took her daughter to visit Elizabeth Evans (1758–1836), of Darley, near Derby. Sara and Samuel Taylor Coleridge had stayed with Mrs Evans in 1796, when there was a possibility that Coleridge would tutor her children.

& at Clarkson’s (near Ipswich) before they reach London, or rather Highgate. The cause of the journey is Sara’s strong desire to see her father

I re[MS missing]ice to hear that you are going on well in your nearest & dear[MS missing]ons, – & that your late alarm has past way. Remember us to John May. My old friend Lightfoot has a son at Exeter whose character is such that I should be glad to hear young John

(13)

John May (1802–1879) did not enter Exeter College, Oxford, until 1823.

had formed an acquaintance with him. By the fathers account he is a youth of thorough good principles & good sense.

God bless you
Yrs &c
Robert Southey

Keswick. 2 Nov. 1822.

Notes

1. Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 2 November 1822, Letter 3913. Gifford was considering whether to retire as editor of the Quarterly Review; Southey wished John Taylor Coleridge to succeed Gifford (as he briefly did in 1824–1825).[back]
2. Southey to [John Murray], 1 November [1822], Letter 3911.[back]
3. Murray had launched the Quarterly Review in 1809; he moved his publishing firm from 32 Fleet Street to grander premises at 50 Albermarle Street in 1812, when he bought the business belonging to William Miller (1769–1844; DNB).[back]
4. The Courier (1792–1842) was a London evening newspaper. Southey received a free copy through his long friendship with Daniel Stuart, its co-owner 1796–1822.[back]
5. Corn prices had been falling since 1819 and reached their lowest point in 1822; this situation produced political controversy and calls from some landowners for action to help agriculture.[back]
6. Joseph Mawman (1759–1827), bookseller and author from York, who became a well-known London publisher. His firm was based in the City of London. Mawman had proposed to set up a rival journal to the Quarterly Review, edited by Southey, though this project did not materialise. Southey was, instead, campaigning for John Taylor Coleridge to take over the Quarterly Review after Gifford’s retirement.[back]
7. John Lingard (1771–1851; DNB), A History of England: from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of Henry VIII (1819), no. 1634 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library; and Sharon Turner, History of England (1814–1823), no. 2838 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Neither book was reviewed in the Quarterly Review at this time.[back]
8. John Lingard, A History of England: from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of Henry VIII, 3 vols (London, 1819), I, pp. 457–487, 1–63, on the reign of William II (c. 1056–1100; King of England 1087–1100; DNB) and the Roman involvement in Britain from 55 BC to the fifth century. Southey compares the first of these treatments with that in Sharon Turner, History of England, 3 vols (London, 1814–1823), I, pp. 108–130.[back]
9. John Lingard, The Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church (1806). An edition from 1810 was no. 1728 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
10. Joseph Berington (1743–1827; DNB), The History of the Reign of Henry the Second, and of Richard and John, his Sons; With the Events of the Period, from 1154 to 1216. In which the Character of Thomas a Becket is vindicated from the Attacks of George Lord Lyttelton, 2 vols (Birmingham, 1790), II, Appendix II, pp. 379–413. Appendix II defended the conduct of St Thomas Becket (c. 1119–1170; DNB), Archbishop of Canterbury 1162–1170.[back]
11. Hartley Coleridge did not arrive in Ambleside to take up a position as a teacher until 1823.[back]
12. Sara Coleridge took her daughter to visit Elizabeth Evans (1758–1836), of Darley, near Derby. Sara and Samuel Taylor Coleridge had stayed with Mrs Evans in 1796, when there was a possibility that Coleridge would tutor her children.[back]
13. John May (1802–1879) did not enter Exeter College, Oxford, until 1823.[back]
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