2028. Robert Southey to John Rickman, [1 February 1812]

2028. Robert Southey to John Rickman, [1 February 1812] *
My dear R.
I trouble you with two letters of great Brazilian importance. Mr Gooden [1] has offered me, thro Robinson, books of which I have been years & years in search, – & manuscripts which I want my Uncle to inspect.
There is an error in the Pop: Returns [2] which it puzzles me to account for – in 1801 an excess of females, as to be expected, in, xxx 1811 an excess of males which during such a war, & with the former excess on the other side, must <seems to> be impossible. – The women with the army perhaps are not returned, but they cannot be numerous enough to explain it.
I am in the act of bringing your whole battery to bear upon Bankes, the Audit Office &c &c – in the Register. [3]
RS.
Notes
* Address: To/ John Rickman Esqr
Endorsement: RS./ Feb 1812
MS: Huntington Library, RS 181. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: This letter contained two
enclosures: one to James Gooden, asking him to send Southey some books; and one to Herbert Hill, asking him to inspect Gooden’s
manuscripts. The latter enclosure was Southey to Herbert Hill, 1 February 1812, Letter 2027. BACK