2972. Robert Southey to William Peachy, 9 April 1817⁠* 

Keswick. 9 April. 1817

My dear Sir

So many interruptions & harrassing affairs have occurred to me of late, one after the other, that I have unavoidably delayed writing to you, till I almost fear a direction even to Rugby will may fail to find you there. [1] 

You will have seen my name pretty frequently in the newspapers, & may perhaps like to know the real circumstances of the business. I wrote Wat Tyler in the summer of 1794 before I was twenty years of age; – it was the xxxx composition of two or three mornings, – thrown off at a heat & without the slightest correction or revision. Lovell took it to London in the autumn & put it into Ridgeways hands, that he might consider whether he would publish it. It was left in his hands, & in the December of the same year I went to town myself for three days, & called on Ridgeway who was then in Newgate. [2]  He & Symonds (also a prisoner) sa told me they would print it, & if any profit accrued I was to have such a proportion as they should think fit equitable. There the matter ended. I returned to Bristol, no proof sheet ever came to me, I concluded that upon farther reflection they thought the thing unfit for publication, & my own after thought coincided so entirely in this judgement, that I made no application to know why the printing was delayed, nor ever enquired for the manuscript, thinking in fact no more of it than of a college or school exercise.

By whom this thing after an interval of three & twenty years has been published I know not. Upon seeing it announced I immediately gave instructions to apply for an injunction in Chancery, – the case being as plain as day light, that the property was mine, & that a man might just as well take from me any of the papers in my writing desk, as print that without my consent, & in defiance of me. A counter-affidavit was procured from a Dissenting Minister by name Winterbottom, which does not contain a single word of truth. [3]  I saw this man once in my life, which was in Ridgeways apartment upon the occasion already mentioned, & I never saw him at any other time, nor was ever at any other time within the walls of Newgate, – he swears that I visited him frequently there, that he believes it to have been in the year 1796 (for the purpose of making it appear that I was of age at the time) – & that I gave him the Manuscript to do with it whatever he pleased, – & he swears to persons being present whom I never saw in the whole course of my life. [4]  He says that the copy which has been printed must have been surreptitiously taken from that in his possession, – but he came forward with his claim in opposition to mine. The Chancellor therefore finding the right of property contested, referred it to a Court of Law, [5]  – & of course I did not chuse to incur farther expences in establishing a claim which was opposed by direct perjury. – Moreover my object was that of avowing the work, & disclaiming its opinions & this I had done.

I have now a letter to W^m Smith in the press which will be published in the course of next week. [6]  It is a plain exposition of what my political <opinions> have been, & what they are; with a wholesome castigation for the said W^m Smith. I would have one franked to you if I knew where to direct it. On Monday next I go to my brother Toms for a week, & my place is taken with Senhouse in the mail for London, on the 22^d. We start for the Continent, God willing, on the first of May.

I have been disturbed about the house which we inhabit. The Estate is to be sold under an Extent in Aid, – [MS torn] I have had to think seriously whether it be best to purchase it, or ri incur the very probable risk of seeing it cut up into small lots, & having the remainder of my lease discomforted by building in the field & upper part of the nursery garden. [7]  This is a point upon which I have not yet been able to decide

Fearons bill is paid, [8]  & your assessed taxes, for both of which I have taken care to have stampt receipts. Should you arrive before my return to Keswick my Governess will render up the bills & accounts.

I can give you no directions to any authors who might serve as guides in Ireland, – a country of which I know neither less than J of Japan or China. There was a tour by Twiss, [9]  published in my childhood, which you have probably seen, & I dare say you know in what manner the Irish revenged themselves for the freedom of his observation by placing his portrait in a very scurvy place, with a poem in which his name was coupled to a scurvy rhyme. [10]  And there is Sir J Carrs Tour. [11]  I have heard of a book concerning Ireland well spoken of by some such name as Dewar or Drewer, – it is some four or five years old, [12]  – & there are two huge quartos of statistic information by Edward Wakefield. [13] 

Remember us most kindly to M^rs Peachy & believe me

my dear Sir

yrs very truly

Robert Southey.