2026.1. Robert Southey to James Gooden, 1 February 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. Feb^y. 1. 1812

Sir

I am exceedingly obliged to you for the list of books & manuscripts, & the offer accompanying it, with which you have favoured me thro my friend Mr Robinson.  [1]  Of the printed Books there are three which will be of great service to me, – the Collecçao dos Breves,  [2]  – the Orbe Serafico,  [3]  & the Vida do P. Joam de Almeida.  [4]  – Of this latter work I have been five years in quest, & xxx that portion of my history which is published  [5]  would have been less imperfect than it is if I could have met with it sooner; for from the death of Anchieta to the commencement of the Dutch war,  [6]  the affairs of Brazil are only to be learnt from scanty & incidental notices, – except what may be discovered in this volume. Both the other works of P Simon de Vasconcellos are in my possession, – his life of Anchieta  [7]  does not xxx exhibit him in any very favourable light as a Biographer, – yet I have no doubt that his life of Almeida will supply many facts which I shall consider as important, enabling me to improve my first volume, – & some material information towards the completion of the work. He refers to it as containing accounts of the native superstitions not to be fo repeated in his other writings. & as it was under Almeidas provincialship that the missions of Paraguay commenced, I may expect to meet with good authority for that period, –the only one for which I am unprovided with satisfactory documents, having in vain hunted Seville & Cadiz & Lisbon for the works of Xarque,  [8]  Lozano  [9]  & Montoya.  [10]  the only substitutes for which within my reach for now have been Charlevoix,  [11]  & the mutilated translation of Techo in Churchills Collection.  [12] 

Of the manuscripts I will only reque at present request the loan of the Apologia.  [13]  By the time that I shall have made use of this & the printed works, I may probably visit London, & have an opportunity of inspecting the others there, & expressing my thanks in person, for what is to me a very essential service.

You have been in Brazil, Sir. Should you have discovered in my history any of those mistakes with which it is scarcely possible for a writer not to commit, who has no ocular knowledge of the countries whereof he is writing, – be assured that for any correction of those, or any other errors, which you might be pleased to favour me with, I should hold myself greatly indebted. Upon the history of Portugal & her dependancies I have bestowed the best years of my life, with little expectation x or probability of any other reward than the pleasure of the task, & the satisfaction of performing it with the most unweariable & conscientious industry. You cannot confer upon me a greater obligation than by enabling me to correct those errors which no diligence could have avoided.

I am Sir

respectfully & thankfully yours

Robert Southey

If you will have the goodness to send these books to Messrs Longman Paternoster Row, they will be transmitted to me. & I will take especial care that they shall be returned uninjured.