4171. Robert Southey to John Mitford, 12 April 1824

 

Address: [in two hands] To/ The Revd. John Mitford [end of Southey’s hand]/ [in another hand, probably Bernard Barton’s] Benhall/ Saxmundham 
Stamped: [partial] WOODBRIDGE
Seal: red wax; design illegible
MS: Beinecke Library, Osborn C18th Bound MSS, Osborn fc 76, vol 2, item 153. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.

Keswick. 12 April. 1824
Dear Sir

In the New Monthly Magazine for October 1818 is an account of the Life & writings of Francisco de Olivarez written, as I suppose, by you for it is signed in your name.

(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…

He is there said to have published a history of the war in Catalonia & likewise Anecdotes of the Chiefs employed in that War. You will probably be surprized to hear that from the time when that Magazine was published I have been endeavouring in vain to obtain these works. The second volume of my History of the War

(2)

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

has been withheld from the press more than a year & half, in expectation of them. And having now been again informed from Madrid that they are not to be procured in that city, & indeed not known there, I have bethought myself as the last forlorn hope, of writing to you to enquire if they are in your possession, & if so, to request the loan of them. Should it be in your power thus to oblige & assist me, the readiest mode of conveyance will be to send them thro Mr Murray the bookseller, apprizing him what the parcel contains, that no time may be lost.

Not knowing whither to direct to you, I send this under cover to our friend Bernard Barton, who I believe is acquainted with your address. Many years have elapsed since we had some communication by letter.

(3)

Their surviving correspondence suggests they had last communicated by letter in 1811; see Southey to John Mitford, 20 March 1811, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Four, Letter 1886.

That communication however would render an apology for the present application unnecessary, if apologies on such occasions were required from one man of letters to another.

I remain Dear Sir
Yours with respect
Robert Southey.

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. Southey’s most recent attempt to find the books was through George Canning.[back]
2. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
3. Their surviving correspondence suggests they had last communicated by letter in 1811; see Southey to John Mitford, 20 March 1811, The Collected Letters of Robert Southey. Part Four, Letter 1886.[back]
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