2899. Robert Southey to William Wilberforce, 15 January 1817⁠* 

Keswick. 15 Jan^y. 1817

My dear Sir

I beg pardon for having forgotten your enquiry respecting my friend Kosters address. It is simply Pernambuco, – but the Brazil packet goes to the Rio; & there is no communication with Pernambuco except by merchant ships. The best plan therefore will be to consign your packet to the care of his father John Theodore Koster, Liverpool. [1] 

This part of the country scarcely feels the existing distress, – Westmoreland (being wholly an agricultural country) not at all. The only xxx We have some cotton mills here, poisoning the health & morals of the people, – & some coarse weaving which is not so mischievous, because only men are employed in it. These suffer something, but not much; – a collection was made several weeks ago; – the amount must have been very trifling, – but nothing more has been called for, & no complaints are heard. Our population is in a deplorable state both as to law & gospel; – the magistrates careless to the last degree & the Vicar who is one of them, has the comprehensive sin of omission to answer for. [2]  The next generation I trust will see fewer of these marrying & christening machines. The morals of the people here have dreadfully worsened during his long slumbers; – even within my remembrance there has been a great change.

M^r Harry Inglis has been kind enough to send me poor Bowdlers Remains [3]  – Why should I affix that epithet to his name when they who are gone to their rest are to be envied & not commiserated!

I sincerely hope some measures will be taken for checking the incendiary journals, as soon as Parliament meets. If they are suffered to proceed with impunity a Bellum Servile [4]  must be the result. The one measure which appears to me indispensible is that transportation be made the punishment for seditious lit writings: fine & imprisonment are absurdly inade inappropriate

Believe me my dear Sir

very truly & respectfully yours

Robert Southey.