4192. Robert Southey to Neville White, 27 May 1824

 

MS: MS untraced; 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. 425–427.

Keswick, May 27. 1824.
My dear Neville,

I had heard from Edith of my little godson’s perilous state,

(1)

Family histories, such as The Homes and Haunts of Henry Kirke White; with some account of the family of White, of Nottingham and Norfolk (London and Nottingham, 1908), p. 260, suggest that Neville White’s first son, christened Henry Kirke White (d. 1849), was born in 1821, but this information may be inaccurate, as Southey had stood as godfather to him in January 1824.

and did not like to write to you under the uncertainty concerning him. Precarious as human life always is, it is peculiarly so in infancy; but, on the other hand, recovery from the very brink of the grave is much more frequent than it is in any other stage of existence. To hope the best, and to be ready for the worst, is our duty in this, as, indeed, in all other cases; and it is a duty which you, I am sure, practise as well as preach. I will hope for good tidings, and shall be anxious to receive them.

Now to the business part of your letter. But first, let me thank you for your good–will and exertions in my brother’s behalf, and say that any names which you may procure may be sent to me.

(2)

Southey was canvassing subscribers for Tom Southey’s Chronological History of the West Indies (1827).

I should very well like to edit Sir T. Browne’s works, write a biographical introduction, and add such Omniana notes as my stores may enable me to furnish.

(3)

Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682; DNB) was a doctor and writer on a huge range of subjects. Southey did not edit his works; however ‘The Whole Works and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Browne, Knt. M. D. of Norwich’ was advertised as shortly forthcoming with Longmans, e.g. London Courier and Evening Gazette, 2 October 1824. This was an early indication of Simon Wilkin’s edition, which did not appear until 1835–1836. Southey acquired a copy and it became no. 376 in the sale catalogue of his library.

That the speculation will answer to the publishers I am not so sure as Hudson Gurney

(4)

Hudson Gurney (1775–1864; DNB), an antiquarian and poet from a prominent Quaker family in Norwich. He was a Whig MP for Shaftesbury 1812–1813, and Newtown, Isle of Wight 1816–1832. Sir Thomas Browne had been a famous Norwich resident.

seems to be; and this you should say to Mr. Wilkin. But the London booksellers must be the best judges upon a question of republication. I should be very far from allowing this concerning a new work. As to terms, I had two hundred guineas for editing the “Morte Arthur,”

(5)

Southey’s edition of Sir Thomas Malory (1415/18–1471; DNB), Le Morte d’Arthur (1485) was published as The Byrth, Lyf and Actes of Kyng Arthur (1817).

which was what Longman offered, being the sum they were to have given a certain person who was originally announced as editor, but left the book and the booksellers in the lurch, for the sake of decamping with another man’s wife.

(6)

John Louis Goldsmid (1789–1835), a wealthy producer of fine editions of early romances and histories. His edition of Le Morte d’Arthur was being advertised by Longman up to 1815. Goldsmid had married Louisa Boscawen de Visme (1782–1862) in 1809 and the couple had three children, all of whom took their mother’s name.

So it is plain that in that sum nothing was allowed for a good name, if mine was not estimated at a better price than his. With that sum, however, I should be content, because I do not think the speculation could afford more; though, if the risk rested with London publishers, I would take all I could get, being richly entitled so to do from them. When I add, that I possess the folio edition of 1686 of Sir T.’s works,

(7)

The Works of Sir Thomas Brown, Kt. Doctor of Physick, Late of Norwich (1686). This does not appear in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.

and no other, and nothing else of his writings, I shall have said all which, in this step of the business, it can be necessary to say.

There is reasonable ground for hoping that a good deal may be recovered. Tenison speaks of other brief discourses, and of memorials which had been collected for writing his life.

(8)

Thomas Tenison (1636–1715; DNB), ‘The Publisher to the Reader’, Certain Miscellany Tracts. Written by Thomas Brown, Kt, and Doctor of Physick, Late of Norwich (London, 1684) [unpaginated]: ‘There still remain other brief Discourses written by this most Learned and ingenious Author … There is on foot a design of writing his Life: and there are, already, some Memorials collected by some of his ancient Friends.’

One thing, however, must be taken into account in the terms. I had nothing to do with correcting the proofs of the “Morte Arthur;” and this is a matter of more importance with Sir Thomas Browne, owing to the peculiarity of his language, than with any other prose writer. Supposing that Wilkin means to print the work himself, he must get some person who is a scholar (and an ordinary one will not do) to revise the sheets. The time which that task would require I cannot afford. Should this lead to any transmission of materials, the Quaker volume

(9)

Unidentified, but for use in Southey’s planned, but unexecuted, life of George Fox (1624–1691; DNB), the founder of Quakerism.

may come and be returned with them; otherwise it may wait till I see Norwich once more. Express, I pray you, my thanks to its owner for this civility.

It was a great disappointment to us not to see you. I had fully expected you, and wish very, very much you could still come, persuaded as I am that it would be greatly to your good.

My paper in the last “Q.R.” was upon Dr. Dwight’s “Travels.”

(10)

Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), Travels in New–England and New–York (1821–1822), no. 881 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, reviewed by Southey in Quarterly Review, 30 (October 1823), 1–40, published 17 April 1824.

There was nothing of mine in the preceding number. I am now reviewing “Hayley’s Memoirs:”

(11)

Southey’s review of John Johnson (1769–1833; DNB), Memoirs of the Life and Writings of William Hayley, Esq. the Friend and Biographer of Cowper, Written by Himself; with Extracts from his Private Correspondence, and Unpublished Poetry; and Memoirs of his Son Thomas Alphonso Hayley, the Young Sculptor (1823), no. 1179 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, Quarterly Review, 31 (March 1825), 263–311, published 11 March 1825.

a poor, insipid book; but it has made me like the man, and he deserves to be treated with respect and kindness.

God bless you, my dear Neville,
Yours affectionately,
ROBERT SOUTHEY.

Notes

1. Family histories, such as The Homes and Haunts of Henry Kirke White; with some account of the family of White, of Nottingham and Norfolk (London and Nottingham, 1908), p. 260, suggest that Neville White’s first son, christened Henry Kirke White (d. 1849), was born in 1821, but this information may be inaccurate, as Southey had stood as godfather to him in January 1824.[back]
2. Southey was canvassing subscribers for Tom Southey’s Chronological History of the West Indies (1827).[back]
3. Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682; DNB) was a doctor and writer on a huge range of subjects. Southey did not edit his works; however ‘The Whole Works and Correspondence of Sir Thomas Browne, Knt. M. D. of Norwich’ was advertised as shortly forthcoming with Longmans, e.g. London Courier and Evening Gazette, 2 October 1824. This was an early indication of Simon Wilkin’s edition, which did not appear until 1835–1836. Southey acquired a copy and it became no. 376 in the sale catalogue of his library.[back]
4. Hudson Gurney (1775–1864; DNB), an antiquarian and poet from a prominent Quaker family in Norwich. He was a Whig MP for Shaftesbury 1812–1813, and Newtown, Isle of Wight 1816–1832. Sir Thomas Browne had been a famous Norwich resident.[back]
5. Southey’s edition of Sir Thomas Malory (1415/18–1471; DNB), Le Morte d’Arthur (1485) was published as The Byrth, Lyf and Actes of Kyng Arthur (1817).[back]
6. John Louis Goldsmid (1789–1835), a wealthy producer of fine editions of early romances and histories. His edition of Le Morte d’Arthur was being advertised by Longman up to 1815. Goldsmid had married Louisa Boscawen de Visme (1782–1862) in 1809 and the couple had three children, all of whom took their mother’s name.[back]
7. The Works of Sir Thomas Brown, Kt. Doctor of Physick, Late of Norwich (1686). This does not appear in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]
8. Thomas Tenison (1636–1715; DNB), ‘The Publisher to the Reader’, Certain Miscellany Tracts. Written by Thomas Brown, Kt, and Doctor of Physick, Late of Norwich (London, 1684) [unpaginated]: ‘There still remain other brief Discourses written by this most Learned and ingenious Author … There is on foot a design of writing his Life: and there are, already, some Memorials collected by some of his ancient Friends.’[back]
9. Unidentified, but for use in Southey’s planned, but unexecuted, life of George Fox (1624–1691; DNB), the founder of Quakerism.[back]
10. Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), Travels in New–England and New–York (1821–1822), no. 881 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, reviewed by Southey in Quarterly Review, 30 (October 1823), 1–40, published 17 April 1824.[back]
11. Southey’s review of John Johnson (1769–1833; DNB), Memoirs of the Life and Writings of William Hayley, Esq. the Friend and Biographer of Cowper, Written by Himself; with Extracts from his Private Correspondence, and Unpublished Poetry; and Memoirs of his Son Thomas Alphonso Hayley, the Young Sculptor (1823), no. 1179 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library, Quarterly Review, 31 (March 1825), 263–311, published 11 March 1825.[back]
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