3112. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 5 April [1818] ⁠* 

My dear R.

I apprehended, – as you know, some such demurral on the part of the feeble. [1]  They are I believe the only persons who when engaged in mortal combat, were {ever} afraid of provoking their enemys, or striking them too hard. As for Asmodeus he has, I verily believe, a disinterested love of mutilating whatever comes before him.

Murray wrote me a brief note the other day wherein without any mention of this paper, he said that he never desired to see another article upon either politics or religion in the Review, – because they are “certain of offending a great mass of people!” – I replied to this at some length & in a way which for a little while would impress the Magnus Homo. [2]  But he of course quasi Br Cormorant, & quasi Scotchman has no other object in view than the sale of his journal, & because Mackintosh [3]  & a few other Ops [4]  praise a number which does them no harm, he fancies because they are pleased, that the rest of his readers must be pleased too. – This is the mere impression of the moment, – but that the Review will ever proceed in a bold, upright & straight forward course is not to be expected.

I suppose Canning will be consulted on this case, [5]  – for he is on familiar terms with Gifford. But that they will make a mess of it between them I dare say! –

I have a chance letter from Stuart. He says Cobbett has fallen one third in sale, [6]  & all such publications are declining, but the Anarchists are as active as ever & new opportunities will occur for bringing their venom into life. “These wretches are effecting their purposes by libelling, – they are driving off the ground every man that can oppose them they are conquering by scandal, & Ministers wish as much as others to keep out of the way. Unless this spirit of scandal is put down, unless the licentiousness of the Press be restrained, certainly it will effect a Revolution, – restrained I mean by new laws & new regulations. It is altogether, as at present practised a new thing, not older than the French Revolution. I can perceive every one shrinking from it, – you, me, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Street. [7]  Every one about the Press dreads Cobbets scandal, & thus when a man throws off all considerations of character, he has all others in his power. Even the Ministry too, & their friends, I think, shrink from those who fight their battles, when covered with filth in the fray.”

Stuart is wrong in two points. This sort of scandal is certainly as old as Junius & Wilkes, [8]  – perhaps much older. – And he mistakes my feeling upon the subject & Wordsworths, who (inter nos) [9]  is at this very time preparing a heavy battery against Brougham. [10]  –

It is time that Espriella was actually on his travels; – he may speak as plain as old Tom Truth Tell-truth. [11] 

And now that this note may not be made up wholly of uncomfortable things, – you will be glad to hear that the Irish Scriptores are not laid aside as we apprehended they would be. The second volume (Wynn tells me) waits only for a sheet or two to be published, & at the same time there will be a catalogue by O Connor of the Stowe MSS. [12] 

Thank you for the Bankruptcy Report. [13]  A well-directed cross examination might have got out more roguery from one of the Witnesses than ap as his occasional practise, than appeared from his voluntary statement: – Pray send me the report about the Church [14] 

RS.

5 April