4023. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 May 1823

 

Address: To/ G. C. Bedford Esqre/ Exchequer/ Westminster
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: E/ 29 MY 29/ 1823
Endorsements: 25 May 1823; 25 May 1823. 
MS: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS. Eng. lett. c. 26. ALS; 4p.
Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), V, pp. 138–139 [in part].

My dear Grosvenor

Westall has sent me four of the six prints for Roderick,

(1)

Richard Westall (1765–1836; DNB), Roderick, the Last of the Goths, by R. Southey. Illustrated with Engravings from the Designs of R. W. (1824), nos 2627–2628 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Southey had secretly invested in this project, published by Longman. Readers could buy the prints and insert them into copies of Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814).

the others are not yet finished: I am very much pleased with these. If I were persuaded according to the custom of these times, that it is absolutely necessary to find some fault with every thing, I might perhaps say that the engraver has aimed at throwing too much expression into the eyes, in some of the plates. Those which are come are Roderick at the foot of the Cross,

(2)

Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 1, lines 189–200.

– Adosinda shewing him the dead bodies,

(3)

Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 3, lines 233–271.

– Florinda at her confession,

(4)

Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 10, lines 79–138.

– & the death of Count Julian.

(5)

Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 24, lines 217–263. The two prints that were not yet finished referenced Roderick, the Last of the Goths, Book 15, lines 225–249, and Book 25, lines 178–204.

The first strikes me as the best & for this reason; that the subject is altogether picturesque, it explains itself sufficiently; whereas to know what the others mean, the poetical situation must be understood. – I am much more desirous that this xxx speculation should succeed on Westalls account than on my own. He had set his heart upon it, in the belief that it would be of service to me to have my poems thus illustrated (as the phrase is), – & in the feeling that the publishers were acting unhandsomely in having such things done for every writer of any note except myself. The success would have been certain had it been done some years ago. At present it is very doubtful.

The Peninsular Views

(6)

A Series of Views of Spain and Portugal, to Illustrate Mr. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War; Drawn on Stone by W. Westall, A.R.A., from Sketches by General Hawker, Mr. Locker, Mr. Heaphy, &c. Part I, containing Eight Views, illustrating Vol. I (1823). These could be inserted into the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).

arrived at the same time. That of Cintra I suppose to have been taken two or three hundred yards below the house which we inhabited.

(7)

Herbert Hill’s summer home at Sintra, where Southey had lived June–October 1800.

Guarda & Bilbao seem not to be well printed in these impressions, – there is a mistiness about them, – like chalk drawings which have been rubbed. The view of Lisbon is not well chosen. Zaragoza, Tudela, Villa Velha & above all Marvam are very beautiful.

How is Chantrey?

(8)

Sir Francis Chantrey sculpted Southey in 1828.

Something like a message from him has been brought me by Mr Gee,

(9)

Captain George Gee (d. 1827) of Wraxall, Somerset, who was renting Ivy Cottage at Rydal. He was a son of Thomas Gee, a Bristol merchant and an old schoolfellow of Southey. He seems to have played an important backstage role in organising the Lowther family’s election contests in Westmorland in 1818, 1820 and 1826.

expressing a wish that I would sit to him when I come to London. When will that be you ask? And many I dare say ask the same question, who know not what pains, as well as thought, I must take for the morrow, before I can afford two months of travelling & expenditure. – Tonight I shall finish with Q Marys reign. Elizabeths will require not a long chapter – James’s a short one.

(10)

The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 141–251; 252–312; 313–346, covering the reigns of Mary I (1516–1558; Queen of England 1553–1558; DNB); Elizabeth I (1533–1603; Queen of England 1558–1603; DNB) and James VI and I (1567–1625; King of Great Britain 1603–1625; DNB).

The next one of the most important in the book, but xxxx easily & soon written, because the materials are ready.

(11)

The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 347–467, covering the reign of Charles I (1600–1649; King of Great Britain 1625–1649; DNB) and the English Republic 1649–1660.

Another chapter comes down to the Revolution, & one more will conclude.

(12)

The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 468–528, was the final chapter, ending with the Revolution of 1688. There was no Conclusion.

Then I shall set out for town, & eat ice there instead of oysters.

(13)

The season for English oysters is September–April, so Southey hoped to arrive in London in the summer and to eat ice cream, rather than oysters.

What is become of Gifford? The delay of the Review

(14)

Southey’s review of Henri Grégoire (1750–1831), ‘Histoire de la Théophilantropie, depuis sa Naissance jusqu’à son Extinction’, part of Grégoire’s Histoire des Sectes Religieuse, qui, Depuis de Commencement du Siecle Dernier Jusqu’a l’Epoque Actuelle, sont Nées, se sont Modifiées, se sont Éteintes dans le Quatre Parties du Monde, 2 vols (Paris, 1814), II, pp. 55–171, Quarterly Review, 28 (January 1823), 493–536, published 8 July 1823. The book was no. 2838 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

is a great inconvenience to me at this time. If it be not speedily forthcoming I must ask you for forty pounds, – for I have workmen to pay.

My annual catarrh is come, & this night I attack it vigorously according to the Dog Stars prescription. Ora pro nobis!

(15)

‘Pray for us’.

God bless you
RS.

Keswick 25 May. 1823.

Notes

1. Richard Westall (1765–1836; DNB), Roderick, the Last of the Goths, by R. Southey. Illustrated with Engravings from the Designs of R. W. (1824), nos 2627–2628 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Southey had secretly invested in this project, published by Longman. Readers could buy the prints and insert them into copies of Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814).[back]
2. Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 1, lines 189–200.[back]
3. Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 3, lines 233–271.[back]
4. Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 10, lines 79–138.[back]
5. Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814), Book 24, lines 217–263. The two prints that were not yet finished referenced Roderick, the Last of the Goths, Book 15, lines 225–249, and Book 25, lines 178–204.[back]
6. A Series of Views of Spain and Portugal, to Illustrate Mr. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War; Drawn on Stone by W. Westall, A.R.A., from Sketches by General Hawker, Mr. Locker, Mr. Heaphy, &c. Part I, containing Eight Views, illustrating Vol. I (1823). These could be inserted into the first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
7. Herbert Hill’s summer home at Sintra, where Southey had lived June–October 1800.[back]
8. Sir Francis Chantrey sculpted Southey in 1828.[back]
9. Captain George Gee (d. 1827) of Wraxall, Somerset, who was renting Ivy Cottage at Rydal. He was a son of Thomas Gee, a Bristol merchant and an old schoolfellow of Southey. He seems to have played an important backstage role in organising the Lowther family’s election contests in Westmorland in 1818, 1820 and 1826.[back]
10. The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 141–251; 252–312; 313–346, covering the reigns of Mary I (1516–1558; Queen of England 1553–1558; DNB); Elizabeth I (1533–1603; Queen of England 1558–1603; DNB) and James VI and I (1567–1625; King of Great Britain 1603–1625; DNB).[back]
11. The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 347–467, covering the reign of Charles I (1600–1649; King of Great Britain 1625–1649; DNB) and the English Republic 1649–1660.[back]
12. The Book of the Church, 2 vols (London, 1824), II, pp. 468–528, was the final chapter, ending with the Revolution of 1688. There was no Conclusion.[back]
13. The season for English oysters is September–April, so Southey hoped to arrive in London in the summer and to eat ice cream, rather than oysters. [back]
14. Southey’s review of Henri Grégoire (1750–1831), ‘Histoire de la Théophilantropie, depuis sa Naissance jusqu’à son Extinction’, part of Grégoire’s Histoire des Sectes Religieuse, qui, Depuis de Commencement du Siecle Dernier Jusqu’a l’Epoque Actuelle, sont Nées, se sont Modifiées, se sont Éteintes dans le Quatre Parties du Monde, 2 vols (Paris, 1814), II, pp. 55–171, Quarterly Review, 28 (January 1823), 493–536, published 8 July 1823. The book was no. 2838 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
15. ‘Pray for us’.[back]
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