4144. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 28 February 1824

 

Address: To/ J Rickman Esqre 
MS: Huntington Library, RS 446. ALS; 4p.
Unpublished.

28 Feby. 1824.
My dear R.

I am both sorry & provoked that any person should have been thoughtless enough to direct to me under your cover from Boulogne – The letter was from Gen- Hawker,

(1)

Major-General Samuel Hawker (1763–1838), who had served in the Peninsular War 1808–1811 as commander of the 14th Light Dragoons.

whom I never saw, – to thank me for the first vol. of the Peninsular War,

(2)

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

which I had sent him, because in civility to me, he had allowed Westall to engrave some of his sketches.

(3)

William Westall, 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).

How he picked up the address I know not, – but he had just learnt it he says by “good fortunes.”

An inclosed paper will show you what my brother Tom has been about.

(4)

Longman had agreed to publish Tom Southey’s Chronological History of the West Indies (1827).

Longman offers to take the risk of printing 750 copies, provided he can procure 200 subscribers: but should he succeed in getting that number, he will be entitled I think to ask for something more certain than half the eventual profits. – He has however a very limited circle of friends, time having carried off many of the old, & his place of abode for the last ten years affording him little opportunity of making new ones. His chance of success therefore depends mainly upon me, – & I wish it were a matter of less importance to him, than in sad reality it is.

You will see that such a subject can only be treated chronologically, – continuous narrative being no ways adapted to a broken subject. I suggested subject & plan many years ago, – my stores have supplied the materials, – what notices fell in my way have regularly been marked for his use, – & I shall have to revise, & intersperse general views & occasional remarks. The book will be useful & respectable; – rather for reference than regular perusal, – & yet I believe that they who open it will read farther than they had anticipated before they lay it down. For of necessity it must contain much curious matter.

Our kindest regards to Mrs R.

God bless you
RS.

Notes

1. Major-General Samuel Hawker (1763–1838), who had served in the Peninsular War 1808–1811 as commander of the 14th Light Dragoons.[back]
2. The first volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
3. William Westall, 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).[back]
4. Longman had agreed to publish Tom Southey’s Chronological History of the West Indies (1827).[back]
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