2833. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 31 August 1816⁠* 

Sunday 31 Aug. 1816

My dear Grosvenor

I begin to wish for solitude & long evenings – Winter it were needless to include in the wish, for we have been <had> it almost uninterruptedly xxxxx xxxx xxxxx since last Christmas. I am weary of visitors, & want leisure. The Beaumonts [1]  are here, & Rogers is here, – & the Lord knows who has been here, – & the Lord knows who more of the Lord knows who’s family are coming. Here is Glover [2]  in town, & the younger Westall, & – the Secretaries of the Bible Society [3]  have been here, & the King of Prussias Librarian [4]  has been here, – & what with one & another I am well nigh walked off my legs, & talked out of my life. Am I the better for all this, you will ask. Every body will tell you that I am in good spirits, – but – my spirits are not what they were, – nor will they ever again be. [5] hæret lateri. [6] 

I have begun this letter forgetting that an unfinished one has been long lying in my desk; – so as I can frank this, I will cut off the fragment. Gifford is at his old work of castrating my reviews, against which I must resolutely & decidedly remonstrate. He has likewise without ceremony or any apology whatsoever wholly supprest a short article which I believe you saw, upon a Frenchmans history of Massenas campaign in Portugal, [7]  & which certainly has not been omitted to make room for better matter. It would be curious if I should be so disgusted as to throw up the review at a time when it pays me so <more> liberally than I have ever before been remunerated for any kind of labour But I am strongly disposed to suspect foul play with which Gifford is unacquainted. Judge for yourself – Murray propounds to me among others subjects a paper upon the West Indies, – there is none which I am more competent to treat: I accepted it, & intimated an intention of making it conclude with reference to the Registry Bill; [8] Murray is well pleased, – collects abundant pamphletts, – takes for it for granted that I must take part with the Planters & Slave Smugglers because he “took [9]  it for granted that I should think differently from Mess^rsJeffrey & Brougham, “ – & finding that on this point (which is in effect the question of the Abolition) I agree with them, he writes to solicit as a matter in which his personal interest is deeply concerned, – that I will write upon any other subject. There are two modes of accounting for this, – he may have West Indian property or connections, & t in that case have formed a fools opinion, upon a mistaken notion of self interest, – or – he has submitted his journal to some undue influence – I pretend not to say what. Money has been lavished in purchasing newspapers &c – yet he can hardly have been so imprudent as well as xx to sell his review – & damn its character & his own should this truth be suspected. I of course have laid the subject aside, – but as I made no secret of my intention to write thro that medium upon the question, I have warned him to beware how he takes the other side.

Lord Byron calls him the Grand Murray. I have preserved all his letters, – their hints & their flattery would amuse you much. When next you come to Keswick we will turn over these papers upon a rainy day, & put them in some order.

By accident I have seen a number of the Examiner containing a parody upon the Proem to the Lay; I could not have desired it to be more silly or more stupid. You are included in it nominatim as my wise friend, in reference to burlesquing the stanza wherein I say the friendship of the wise & good is mine. [10]  It is hardly worth while to allude to such attacks or seriously – but if you will send me back the chapters of the prophet Jehephary, [11]  I will xx alter & adapt them to the present state <date>, & secure their appearance in the Courier by sending them to Stuart myself.

Recover if you can the MS of my two last articles. [12]  – Remember me to all at home.

God bless you

RS.