2025. Robert Southey to John Murray, 31 January 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. Jan^y. 31. 1812.

My dear Sir

I must have been very dull not to have guessed for what purpose you sent me the List of Books for the Press, – but so it was; – having pleased myself & my wife with seeing for the first time the titles of those unborn Works in Printers characters, I laid the list aside. There seems to be nothing which requires alteration, – except that Nelson [1]  is not nearly ready. – It is almost half done, – & the first half is that which required most trouble, because it is that in which the existing reviewal affords least assistance, – I have delayed sending it till half was compleated, – because when that is done, you will be enabled to cast it to a sheet more or less, & so regulate the size of the page. This I will do soon; – the Register [2]  will be finished in April, – till that time the printer may be going on at his leisure with the first half, & I can engage to compleat the other, so as to have it published in May.

I have Mosheim. [3]  I should be glad of Lewiss Life of Wickliffe & his History of the Translation of the Bible. [4] 

The proofs are returned by this nights post; [5]  – indeed I have never delayed them a single post night, being perfectly aware that the public interest in the subject must be every day declining. – The intended dedication to Jeffray was just in the Killing-no-Murder style, – you had precisely divined the manner in which I treated him. This honour being laid aside I think of substituting a dedication to the Prince Regent, if I can please myself in the difficult task of combining the language of exhortation with what may be thought sufficiently respectful.

believe me dear Sir

Yrs very truly

Robert Southey.

MacKenzie [6]  as soon as I can. – Colliers book [7]  no doubt will occur ere long some of the Catalogues; – it is neither old enough, nor valued enough to be scarce.