3948. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 7 January 1823

 

Address: To/ Dr Southey/ 15. Queen Anne Street/ Cavendish Square
MS: Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, 1996.5.128. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished.

My dear Harry

Your information that the great man has taken the History

(1)

Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832), published by John Murray.

to himself, puts me to a more round-about way of sending a copy to Landor than would otherwise have been necessary. I have desired him to send it to you; & if you will send it with the inclosed note to Our Fathers which are in the Row, they will make up a parcel according to the directions therein given, & ship it accordingly.

Trant

(2)

Brigadier-General Nicholas Trant (1769–1839; DNB), an Irish army officer who was assigned to command Portuguese forces. He served with distinction in many actions in the Peninsular War 1808–1813.

has written to offer me some papers, which are likely to be very serviceable. I have desired him to send them to you, – & you may either give them to Murray for an Admiralty frank, or to Bedford that Wynn may put upon them his sign potential. He is the most ponderous of all frankers, – last week I received from him by one post, three <large> octavo volumes in as many franks.

I am sorry Lord Holland is sore,

(3)

History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 3–61 (esp. pp. 55–58), criticised the Whigs for opposing war with France.

tho it is a sign of grace in him. He has many redeeming qualities, & when I come to speak of him individually I shall have to notice the compleat opposition between his feelings & his votes.

(4)

History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), II, pp. 587–588, where Southey reported Lord Holland’s speech in the House of Lords of 8 June 1810 in support of a vote of censure of the government over its Spanish policy, but also his defence in the same speech of the idea of aiding Spanish resistance to the French invasion.

As for the Whigs in general, as yet they have only had a small sample of historical truth. In the subsequent volume they may be assured that I shall faithfully record their parliamentary conduct, their wishes, their opinions & their prophecies during the years of which I treat.

The second vol. will go to the press as soon as Murray procures for me a Spanish hist. of the war in Catalonia,

(5)

Southey had read John Mitford’s ‘On Spanish Literature, with some Account of Francisco de Olivarez’, New Monthly Magazine, 10 (October 1818), 221–223. It mentioned Olivarez’s Account of the War in Catalonia (1815) in four volumes, published at Seville, 1815; Anecdotes of Chiefs Employed in the Catalan War (1816); and Memoirs of the Spanish Monarchy to the Abdication of Charles 4 & the Usurpation of Joseph Bonaparte (1816). However, none of these works seem to exist. Southey had already asked Murray to try and acquire them; see Southey to John Murray: 10 July 1820, The Collected Letters of Robe…

which I have applied for many months ago. It is wanted for the first chapter. I am in forwardness, & shall not require more than six months to carry it thro the press, – exclusive of the two which my journey will consume.

I know not whether Edith May can be spared to accompany me,

(6)

Southey was planning a visit to London, though he did not leave Keswick until 3 November 1823.

– owing to Mrs C.s absence. Yet I wish to take her: & she wishes to go. Part of my time I must be at Rickmans, – & part I think at Bedfords. – You want me to raise your spirits, – I would not exchange mine for Lord Lonsdales estates.

I continue in fine condition. Every morning before breakfast I go to the Crag,

(7)

Friars Crag, a short walk from the centre of Keswick.

& then E if the wind is not too high Echo hears the voice she loves,

(8)

In Greek mythology, the mountain nymph Echo was cursed to repeat the words of others. These included Narcissus, the youth she loved.

– & I take another walk before dinner, – of length according to the weather & my humour. It would often be longer if I had a companion, – but as it is, the purpose is answered.

Do not let your carriage which is meant to give you a lift in the world, depress you. I have great confidence that both you & I shall continue to go on from good to better

I will bring Gooch’s paper

(9)

Unidentified.

with me, unless he wants it sooner. In that case I will devise means of sending it. Remember me to him.

Of curious facts in natural history, – do you know that muscles have been found alive imbedded in gravel, at a distance from the sea?

(10)

Edward Lhuyd (1660–1709; DNB) to Richard Richardson (1663–1741; DNB), 3 July 1699, published in The Cambro-Britain, 3 vols (London, 1819–1822), I, p. 182, reporting a discovery at Mold, Flintshire. The book was no. 527 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

Love to all – God bless you
RS.

Keswick 7 Jany. 1823.

Ask your Portugueze friends if any history, general or local, of the war in their country has been published, subsequent to the work of Jose Accursio das Neves

(11)

José Acúrsio das Neves (1766–1834), Histório Geral da Invasão dos Francezes em Portugal e de Restauração deste Reino (1810–1811), no. 3164 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

– which only comes down to the expulsion of Junot.

(12)

Jean-Andrache Junot (1771–1813), the French General who commanded the forces that invaded Portugal in 1808–1809.

Notes

1. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832), published by John Murray.[back]
2. Brigadier-General Nicholas Trant (1769–1839; DNB), an Irish army officer who was assigned to command Portuguese forces. He served with distinction in many actions in the Peninsular War 1808–1813.[back]
3. History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), I, pp. 3–61 (esp. pp. 55–58), criticised the Whigs for opposing war with France.[back]
4. History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), II, pp. 587–588, where Southey reported Lord Holland’s speech in the House of Lords of 8 June 1810 in support of a vote of censure of the government over its Spanish policy, but also his defence in the same speech of the idea of aiding Spanish resistance to the French invasion.[back]
5. Southey had read John Mitford’s ‘On Spanish Literature, with some Account of Francisco de Olivarez’, New Monthly Magazine, 10 (October 1818), 221–223. It mentioned Olivarez’s Account of the War in Catalonia (1815) in four volumes, published at Seville, 1815; Anecdotes of Chiefs Employed in the Catalan War (1816); and Memoirs of the Spanish Monarchy to the Abdication of Charles 4 & the Usurpation of Joseph Bonaparte (1816). However, none of these works seem to exist. Southey had already asked Murray to try and acquire them; see Southey to John Murray: 10 July 1820, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3509; 27 February 1821, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3641; 11 June 1821, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Six, Letter 3693; and 27 July 1822, Letter 3877; and 1 November [1822], Letter 3911.[back]
6. Southey was planning a visit to London, though he did not leave Keswick until 3 November 1823.[back]
7. Friars Crag, a short walk from the centre of Keswick.[back]
8. In Greek mythology, the mountain nymph Echo was cursed to repeat the words of others. These included Narcissus, the youth she loved.[back]
9. Unidentified.[back]
10. Edward Lhuyd (1660–1709; DNB) to Richard Richardson (1663–1741; DNB), 3 July 1699, published in The Cambro-Britain, 3 vols (London, 1819–1822), I, p. 182, reporting a discovery at Mold, Flintshire. The book was no. 527 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
11. José Acúrsio das Neves (1766–1834), Histório Geral da Invasão dos Francezes em Portugal e de Restauração deste Reino (1810–1811), no. 3164 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
12. Jean-Andrache Junot (1771–1813), the French General who commanded the forces that invaded Portugal in 1808–1809.[back]
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