4177. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 26 April 1824

 

MS: MS was not available to the editors, but it forms part of an album kept by members of the Goulburn, Goldsmid and associated families, sold at Bonhams, London, 21 March 2018, Lot 24; text is taken from John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856). 
Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), III, pp. 414–416.

Keswick, April 26. 1824.

My dear Harry,

If Westall should deposit at your house a set of the engravings for “Roderick,”

(1)

Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814). Richard Westall, Illustrations of Roderick, the Last of the Goths. A Poem, by Robert Southey, Esq. from the Drawings of R. Westall, R.A. (1824), nos 2627–2628 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Longman published the latter and purchasers could arrange for the six engravings to be bound into their copy of Roderick. Southey invested in this venture.

which I wish to send to my Dutch translatress,

(2)

Katherina Bilderdijk, née Schweickhardt (1776–1830), Rodrigo de Goth, Koning van Spanje, 2 vols (The Hague, 1823–1824), I, pp. i–xii, no. 2701 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, where it was described as ‘red morocco, gilt leaves’. This was a translation of Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814).

will you have the goodness to transmit them to Murray, whom I have intrusted to pack them up with a copy of the “Book of the Church,”

(3)

Southey’s The Book of the Church (1824).

and despatch the parcel. I had a note from him, the other day, saying he had put a second edition of that book to the press. Whether the engravings are published I do not know.

I am profiting by the communication with Holland. A very well–informed Mr. Willem de Clercq shows a great disposition to correspond with me, and answer my enquiries de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis.

(4)

‘of all things and some others’.

Oh, that I had such a correspondent at Lisbon, or at Madrid! I find him, however, very useful, and shall request Murray forthwith to procure for me some German works upon the Peninsular War, which he has pointed out.

(5)

The bibliography of his History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), III, p. 936, suggests that Southey was probably seeking: Hermann von Staff (1790–1867), Der Befreiungs–Krieg der Katalonier, in den Jahren 1808 bis 1814 (1821–1827); and Franz Xaver Rigel (1783–1852), Die Siebenjahrige Kampf auf der Pyrenaischen Halbinsel vom Jahre 1807 bis 1814; besonders miene eigenen Erfahrungen in disem Kriege; nebst Bemerkungen uber das Spanische Volk und Land (1819–1821), no. 2442 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

You would be amused at his letters, which are written in very odd English; but I wish I could read Dutch as well.

Bertha is to return to Palace Yard this day; we have just heard from her. She has been so unwell in Sussex as to lie in bed one whole day and great part of the next, – the effect, I suppose, of too much travelling and excitement.

In reply to a question, how she liked the South Downs? her answer is, “To tell the truth, I quite despise them, they are just like little molehills.” What airs these young mountaineers give themselves! When she is a little older, she will understand that downs are not to be compared with mountains, and learn to enjoy any scenery that is really enjoyable, – and there is very little natural scenery which is not so.

Having given up all hope of getting Olivares’s “History of the War in Catalonia,”

(6)

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 to–day set upon that part of my subject from such materials as I possess, and the second volume, accordingly, will go to press in a few days.

(7)

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

What will become of Portugal with such a creature as D. Miguel

(8)

Michael I (1802–1866; King of Portugal 1828–1834). He was the second surviving son of John VI (1767–1826; King of Portugal 1816–1826), but was likely to succeed his father as his elder brother, Peter IV (1798–1834; King of Portugal March–May 1826), had become Emperor of Brazil 1822–1831. Michael was an extreme reactionary and was shortly to be exiled for plotting a coup against his father.

for heir–apparent! He seems very much to resemble Affonso VI.,

(9)

Afonso VI (1643–1683; King of Portugal 1656–1683). In 1668 he was declared incapable, and power passed to a regency.

if there be any truth in such accounts as get into the newspapers. And his brother in Brazil is of the same stamp. Did I tell you that one of this Emperor’s amusements is to ride negroes with spurs? With regard both to the Braganzas and the Spanish Bourbons,

(10)

The Braganzas had been the ruling dynasty of Portugal since 1640, while the Bourbons had ruled Spain since 1700.

I fear Jupiter has determined to destroy them; for he has certainly taken away their senses!

(11)

As in the proverb, ‘Whom Jupiter would ruin, he first makes mad’. Jupiter was the King of the Roman gods and this is a neo-Latinised version from the seventeenth century of a Greek saying.

A little encouragement would make me think seriously of a Book of the State,

(12)

Southey did not write this book.

– tracing the course of political events with the view of showing their effect upon the condition and progress of society.

How is Louisa? how are the children?

(13)

Robert Southey, Jnr (b. 1817), Charles Gonne Southey (1819–1861) and Henry Herbert Southey, Jnr (1822–1829).

My love to them. I wish you were all here to enjoy this delicious weather. God bless you.

R.S.

Notes

1. Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814). Richard Westall, Illustrations of Roderick, the Last of the Goths. A Poem, by Robert Southey, Esq. from the Drawings of R. Westall, R.A. (1824), nos 2627–2628 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. Longman published the latter and purchasers could arrange for the six engravings to be bound into their copy of Roderick. Southey invested in this venture.[back]
2. Katherina Bilderdijk, née Schweickhardt (1776–1830), Rodrigo de Goth, Koning van Spanje, 2 vols (The Hague, 1823–1824), I, pp. i–xii, no. 2701 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, where it was described as ‘red morocco, gilt leaves’. This was a translation of Southey’s Roderick, the Last of the Goths (1814).[back]
3. Southey’s The Book of the Church (1824).[back]
4. ‘of all things and some others’.[back]
5. The bibliography of his History of the Peninsular War, 3 vols (London, 1823–1832), III, p. 936, suggests that Southey was probably seeking: Hermann von Staff (1790–1867), Der Befreiungs–Krieg der Katalonier, in den Jahren 1808 bis 1814 (1821–1827); and Franz Xaver Rigel (1783–1852), Die Siebenjahrige Kampf auf der Pyrenaischen Halbinsel vom Jahre 1807 bis 1814; besonders miene eigenen Erfahrungen in disem Kriege; nebst Bemerkungen uber das Spanische Volk und Land (1819–1821), no. 2442 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
6. 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 had then sought the assistance of George Canning. Finally, Southey had written to John Mitford, 12 April 1824, Letter 4171.[back]
7. Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832).[back]
8. Michael I (1802–1866; King of Portugal 1828–1834). He was the second surviving son of John VI (1767–1826; King of Portugal 1816–1826), but was likely to succeed his father as his elder brother, Peter IV (1798–1834; King of Portugal March–May 1826), had become Emperor of Brazil 1822–1831. Michael was an extreme reactionary and was shortly to be exiled for plotting a coup against his father.[back]
9. Afonso VI (1643–1683; King of Portugal 1656–1683). In 1668 he was declared incapable, and power passed to a regency.[back]
10. The Braganzas had been the ruling dynasty of Portugal since 1640, while the Bourbons had ruled Spain since 1700.[back]
11. As in the proverb, ‘Whom Jupiter would ruin, he first makes mad’. Jupiter was the King of the Roman gods and this is a neo-Latinised version from the seventeenth century of a Greek saying. [back]
12. Southey did not write this book.[back]
13. Robert Southey, Jnr (b. 1817), Charles Gonne Southey (1819–1861) and Henry Herbert Southey, Jnr (1822–1829).[back]
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