3915. Robert Southey to Nicholas Lightfoot, 8–12 November 1822

 

Address: [in another hand] London Fifteenth Novr.1822/ Revd./ N Lightfoot/ Crediton/ Devon/ Free/ JRickman
Postmark: [partial] – FREE/ 1x NO 1x/ 18
MS: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Eng. lett. d. 110. ALS; 4p.
Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), V, pp. 126–128 [in part].

Keswick. 8 Nov. 1822.
My dear Lightfoot

By my brother Henrys means I have found how the impediment between me & your cyder may be removed, if you will direct it for me, to the care of George Sealy Esqr

(1)

George Sealy (1781–1843) of the merchant firm Sealy, Duncan, Walker & Co. Southey had met him in Portugal in 1800–1801. He was the brother of Henry Herbert Southey’s first wife.

Liverpool, & ship it for that place, – letting me know by what vessel it is sent, he will look after it there, & forward it to Keswick, & then we will all drink your health in the juice of the apple. It will need a case to protect it on the way from a gimlet.

There is little chance of any circumstance drawing me from this country to reside in the vicinity of London – at least I can forsee none. The question whether or not the Quarterly Review should do so has been fairly considered & decided in consequence of Giffords dangerous illness. He had written to me soon after you left us, saying that he could not long continue to conduct the Review & that he knew not where to look for a successor. He was not ill at the time; & therefore my consideration of the matter was not hastily but deliberately made. If I had chosen to propose myself, the office must have been mine, of course. The objections to it were, that the increased expenditure which I must incur near London, would fully consume any advantage increase of income which I should have obtained; & therefore the time consumed in the mere management of the journal, would have been a dead loss. This time would be unpleasantly as well as unprofitably spent, in corresponding upon the mere business of the review, examining communications, & either correcting them myself when there was any thing erroneous, imprudent, or inconsistent with those coherent opinions which the journal should have maintained under my care, – in persuading the respective writers to amend & alter according to that standard. Lastly it seemed that there was nothing in the change of which could recompense me for the sacrifice which it needs would be to quit a country in which I take so much delight, & of which all my family are as fond as myself: & there was this weightier consideration that if I gave up the quantity of time which the management of such a journal requires, it would take away all reasonable hope of my compleating the various great works

(2)

In particular, Southey’s ‘History of Portugal’, which was never finished.

for which I have been so long making preparations

I talked this matter over with John May, who entered entirely into my feelings. The next point having fully made up my mind concerning myself, was to secure the succession (as far as my influences extended) for some person with whom I could freely & heartily cooperate. John Coleridge is just such a person: & having ascertained that he would like the xxxx situation, I mentioned him to Gifford & to Murray. Giffords illness has occurred since, he is better at present, – & I have good reason to believe it is all but settled that John Coleridge is to become the Editor of the Q.R. Without taking him from his profession, it will render him independent of it, & place him at once in a high & important station

Copplestone had proposed Wheatley of Oriel,

(3)

Richard Whately (1787–1863; DNB), a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, 1811–1821, clergyman and later Archbishop of Dublin 1831–1863. He was also at this time a private tutor and a writer on a wide variety of subjects, including for the Quarterly Review.

whom Gifford considered quite out of the question. Mitchell

(4)

Thomas Mitchell (1783–1845; DNB), a classical scholar and translator of The Comedies of Aristophanes (1820–1822). Aristophanes (c. 446–386 BC) was an Athenian comic playwright.

the translator of Aristophanes, & author of many good papers in the Review concerning the Greeks, was talked of, & so was a Mr Gregson,

(5)

Nobody of this name had contributed articles to the Quarterly Review. This possibly refers to Matthew Gregson (1749–1824; DNB), a wealthy Liverpool antiquarian and compiler of Portfolio of Fragments Relative to the History and Antiquities of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster (1817). He was a regular contributor to the Gentleman’s Magazine and to charities in Liverpool, where Canning was one of the local MPs.

who is a friend of Cannings & an able man: but they were not thought of. Both Gifford & Murray were compleatly at a loss where to look, for it is a situation of great confidence, & requiring great discretion, as well as the necessary talents & attainments. It would be very difficult to find a person so qualified as J.C. & I trust that I have done good service to the public as well as to the publisher & to him, in putting the matter in its present train

This is a long explanation, & yet I think you will like to know the how & the why of my proceedings. In consequence I may possibly take more part in the review & certainly more interest in it: because knowing the tenour of his mind <opinions>, & his way of thinking, I am sure he will admit nothing that either in matter or manner could offend a well-regulated mind. He will hold a manly & straight-forward course, & censure will always come with weight & effect, because it will never be unduly, or insolently applied.

Murray has long delayed my first volume.

(6)

The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

He means to publish it early next month, & is instructed to send a copy to Crediton as soon as it appears.

And now for domestic affairs in what little room is left. Mrs Coleridge & her daughter have begun their travels, & are at this time performing a visit at Derby.

(7)

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.

– We are all well, thank God, – a frightful alarm which occurred a week ago concerning Cuthbert, having mercifully, past away. He had an attack of croup in the night, happily of the spurious kind,

(8)

Croup is a respiratory infection, whose main symptom is a barking cough. It is usually caused by a virus and affects many young children. It was known at this time as ‘false croup’, to distinguish it from laryngeal diphtheria, formerly known as ‘true croup’, a much more serious bacterial infection that also produced a barking cough.

– but it is always a frightful & most alarming sound. – Young Henry is perfectly recovered from his horrible accident,

(9)

Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. The accident occurred on 2 August 1822 and was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming him): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.

& no otherwise the worse for it, that than he has a hole nearly three inches long in his forehead. This is truly a marvellous recovery – I keep up the course of exercise which I began with you, walking about six miles every day when the weather is not absolutely too bad as it has been this day. While you were here I always walked in pain;

(10)

Southey suffered from a rectal prolapse and haemorrhoids.

but it brought my system into tone; & this change was just effected, when we parted. The good effect has continued ever since, & I shall not relax throughout the winter in my efforts to maintain it. – Tell me now how you are going on & my unseen friends of your household, whom I certainly intend to see in the spring. Remember me to them all at present, – take yourself the kindest remembrances from all here, & believe me

my dear Lightfoot
Yrs affectionately
Robert Southey

Nov. 12.

Notes

1. George Sealy (1781–1843) of the merchant firm Sealy, Duncan, Walker & Co. Southey had met him in Portugal in 1800–1801. He was the brother of Henry Herbert Southey’s first wife.[back]
2. In particular, Southey’s ‘History of Portugal’, which was never finished.[back]
3. Richard Whately (1787–1863; DNB), a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, 1811–1821, clergyman and later Archbishop of Dublin 1831–1863. He was also at this time a private tutor and a writer on a wide variety of subjects, including for the Quarterly Review.[back]
4. Thomas Mitchell (1783–1845; DNB), a classical scholar and translator of The Comedies of Aristophanes (1820–1822). Aristophanes (c. 446–386 BC) was an Athenian comic playwright.[back]
5. Nobody of this name had contributed articles to the Quarterly Review. This possibly refers to Matthew Gregson (1749–1824; DNB), a wealthy Liverpool antiquarian and compiler of Portfolio of Fragments Relative to the History and Antiquities of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster (1817). He was a regular contributor to the Gentleman’s Magazine and to charities in Liverpool, where Canning was one of the local MPs.[back]
6. The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
7. 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]
8. Croup is a respiratory infection, whose main symptom is a barking cough. It is usually caused by a virus and affects many young children. It was known at this time as ‘false croup’, to distinguish it from laryngeal diphtheria, formerly known as ‘true croup’, a much more serious bacterial infection that also produced a barking cough.[back]
9. Charles Edward Henry (1807–1833), the younger of Peachy’s two stepsons. The accident occurred on 2 August 1822 and was widely reported in the newspapers (without naming him): ‘A young gentleman, by way of saluting some friends who were taking their departure, fired off a cannon, which unfortunately burst in consequence of being overloaded, and the fragments severely fractured his skull’ (Glasgow Herald, 12 August 1822). The cannon was kept outside Peachy’s house on Derwent Island and was fired as part of the annual Keswick Regatta.[back]
10. Southey suffered from a rectal prolapse and haemorrhoids.[back]
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