1809. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 29 September 1810 ⁠* 

My dear Rickman

I must begin by thanking Mrs R. for the very long list of subscribers which she has had zeal as well as goodness enough to procure. [1]  If we had a Prime Minister who set about his business with half as much spirit, Buonaparte would be beaten out of Spain before Christmas, & would cut his throat to escape hanging before Easter.

Can you procure for me the Parl. Papers about that curst Expedition to the Scheldt? [2]  – the history of which miserable business I have to collect for the Register. If you have seen the existing volume you will not have been displeased at the plain English therein used respecting Buonaparte, [3]  – I shall soon speak as plainly of his father-in-law [4]  & of Austrian business from the commencement of the Anti-Jacobine war thro all the abominations & absurdities committed by that execrable House down to its worthy alliance with Napoleon. [5]  – You past I think an ill-founded censure on Wordsworths’ pamphlett [6]  when you said it was not a practical work. I can conceive nothing so xx of equal practical importance to the philosophy which pervades it, that an reliance may be placed upon the moral nature of man; & that where there <since there> is no principle to reply upon, there can be nothing else, but what is as treacherous as a foundation of sand: witness Spain & Austria, & what has past in both countries since that pamphlett was written. The lilly-livered politicians said xx last year that the fate of the Spain was to be decided in Germany, – affairs in the peninsula were of secondary importance, regular governments & regular armies were what we had to trust to, – the old cant & nonsense of the Pittites [7]  gobbled up & regorged as crude as it had been swallowed by their xxxxxxx xxxxx x old opponents. We have now experienced the faith & Honour of a regular Government, – that is to say, of an old Despotism, – & we are still experiencing the fidelity of a determined people, who have taken arms to deliver their country, & who will never lay their arms down till that object is fully accomplished. –

This Register proves to me a very profitable concern. I believe I told you that they pay me 400 £ for the years’ work, history, – which is about half a years work. 209 £ of this first years payment I have vested in a twelfth part of the property of the work, which has been vacated for the purpose of attaching me more intimately to its interests; – for this Ballantyne gives me his bill at twelve months for 80 £, & this interest will not diminish as long as the book keeps up its sale, – which it will do I trust as long as I continue to bear the main part in it. 4000 copies are printed. the outlay has been about 2500 £. – the net profits you see 960 £. The Ballantynes find their account in their additional profits, one as printer, the other as publisher, – or in technical phrase, husband of the work.

I expect to get the second vol. off my hands by the end of February, & a few other jobs will be cleared off at xxxx xxx intermediate time. As early in the spring as may be, it is my present intention, to visit Streatham, & my friends in town. If possible I shall persuade Edith to accompany me, if <should> circumstances all permit. –

Kehama [8]  is compleated at last, – hot-presses, folders & stitchers, binders & the slow waggon from Edinburgh, – or the Leith traders, will detain him some four or five weeks, – but I think xxxx the book may <will> make its appearance in Palace Yard early in November. Tell Mrs R. that I do not by any means expect or require her to like it, – it will be quite sufficient if she wonders at it.

There has scarcely a day past in this month, in which I have not wished you had been here. We never remember so fine a season.

God bless you

RS.