4146. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [c. late February–early March 1824]

 

MS: National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 1p.
Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), II, p. 265 (where it is dated ‘[Spring, 1824]’).
Dating note: Dating from content. This was written shortly after news of the appointment of William Hart Coleridge to the Bishopric of Barbados appeared in the London press on 16 February 1824.

My dear Wynn

The ostensible note inclosed herewith will, it is to be hoped, procure for me these provoking books

(1)

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, published in four volumes at Seville in 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 So…

I have Hubbards book.

(2)

William Hubbard (1621/2–1704), Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England (1677) and Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England (1803), nos 1385 and 1266 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. These were both important sources for Southey’s unfinished ‘Oliver Newman’, set in New England. A fragment was published posthumously in Oliver Newman: a New-England Tale (Unfinished): with Other Poetical Remains by the Late Robert Southey (London, 1845), pp. 1–90.

If you possess them not, you should get Cotton Mathers Magnalia Christi,

(3)

Cotton Mather (1663–1728), Magnalia Christi Americana, or the Ecclesiastical History of New England, from 1620 to 1698 (1702), no. 1904 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

– & the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society,

(4)

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, from the commencement in 1792 to 1823 (1806–1823), no. 1819 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

my two great storehouses. The latter contain a great number of interesting papers; the former is one of the most extraordinary books in the world, – & both well deserve a place in such a library as yours.

William Coleridge is nephew to S.T.C. & first cousin to John C. in whose hands I wish to have the Q Review placed. The Black Bishop goes like Heber from a sense of duty.

(5)

William Hart Coleridge became Bishop of Barbados and the Leeward Islands in 1824, while Reginald Heber became Bishop of Calcutta in 1823.

He has a fair fortune; he was in the high road to preferment, – & he is the only child of an infirm & aged mother. His father died when he was <leaving him an> infant.

(6)

William Hart Coleridge was the only child of Luke Herman Coleridge (1765–1790), a surgeon and brother of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Sarah Hart (c. 1770–1830).

I have never thanked you for taking me to the Duke of W. It is a great satisfaction to have seen & spoken to him.

(7)

This visit to the Duke of Wellington must have occurred during Southey’s time in London between November 1823 and February 1824.

When my second volume

(8)

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

appears he will find that I shall not have imputed to the Spaniards more than is strictly their due, – & that among the difficulties which he had to contend with will be fully & fairly stated. The truth is that I have seen communications of the most confidential kind from him to the Marquis; – & if I had not seen them should never have known half the merit which is due to him. – If at any time I want information upon any specific point I will write to you about it.

God bless you
RS.

Notes

1. 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, published in four volumes at Seville in 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. Murray had then written to Spain to try and obtain these books for Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832), and Herbert Hill had also offered to help. Finally, Southey had sought the assistance of George Canning. It is possible that this letter to Wynn was prompted by the news that the books could not be found at Madrid, and was accompanied by a note asking for a search to be made at Seville; see Southey to Herbert Hill, 9 May 1824, Letter 4185.[back]
2. William Hubbard (1621/2–1704), Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England (1677) and Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England (1803), nos 1385 and 1266 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. These were both important sources for Southey’s unfinished ‘Oliver Newman’, set in New England. A fragment was published posthumously in Oliver Newman: a New-England Tale (Unfinished): with Other Poetical Remains by the Late Robert Southey (London, 1845), pp. 1–90.[back]
3. Cotton Mather (1663–1728), Magnalia Christi Americana, or the Ecclesiastical History of New England, from 1620 to 1698 (1702), no. 1904 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
4. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, from the commencement in 1792 to 1823 (1806–1823), no. 1819 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
5. William Hart Coleridge became Bishop of Barbados and the Leeward Islands in 1824, while Reginald Heber became Bishop of Calcutta in 1823.[back]
6. William Hart Coleridge was the only child of Luke Herman Coleridge (1765–1790), a surgeon and brother of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Sarah Hart (c. 1770–1830).[back]
7. This visit to the Duke of Wellington must have occurred during Southey’s time in London between November 1823 and February 1824.[back]
8. The second volume of Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
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