2215. Robert Southey to Herbert Hill, 1 February 1813 ⁠* 

Keswick . Feb^y 1. 1813.

The Life of Nelson [1]  was compleated this morning. The printer began with it before it was half-written, but I have distanced him by ten sheets. Do not fear that I have been proceeding too fast, – it is he that who, after the manner of printers, has given me plenty of time, by taking his own. – This was a subject which I should never have dreamt of touching, if it had not been thrust upon me: – I have walked among sea terms as carefully as a cat does among crockery, – but if I have succeeded in making the narrative continuous & clear, – the very reverse of what it is in the lives before me, – the materials are in themselves so full of character, so picturesque & so sublime that it cannot fail of being a good book.

I am in bad hands with the bookseller Ballantyne, who is manifestly a shuffling fellow & a knave. Luckily however he & his brother (who is a man of character) have more dependant upon me than I have upon them. But I shall cast about to get clear of the connection, & emancipate myself as soon as possible from periodical labour. If my reputation does not already enable me to do this it soon will, for I can distinctly xxxxx <feel> its growth. I am very much inclined to attempt under some such title as the Age of George 3 [2]  a xxx sketch of the revolutions which, almost every where & in all things, have taken place within the last half-century. Any comparison which it might induce with Voltaire [3]  would rather invite than deter me. When I come to town I shall talk with Murray about this, – meantime I have enough upon my hands, tho there is room enough in my thoughts for as much more.

When you wrote there was no more of Roderick [4]  in Bedfords hands than what you saw at Streatham. He has now the 3^d & 4^th – books & will soon have two more which are nearly transcribed, & then I will desire xx 4^th him to convey them to you. I am in the 11^th, which is rather more than halfway, xx the remainder of the way will be like travelling down-hill. Scotts Pegasus gets on by help of the same spur as the mare in the proverb. [5]  Mine is not spurred & xxx goes on with a sure foot. From what I hear said of Rokeby [6]  it seems xx likely to be less succesful than its predecessors, – I think it of the same merit as well as the same character, – but the story is less pleasing & the story is that of which every reader can judge.

You wonder that I should submit to any expurgations in the Quarterly. The fact is that there must be a power expurgatory in the hands of the Editor, & the misfortune is that Editors frequently think it incumbent upon them to use it merely because they have it. I do not like to break with the Review, – because Gifford has been something more than merely civil to me, & offered me services which I had no reason to expect, & luckily no occasion to accept – because the review gives me (& shame it is that it should be so) more repute than any thing else which I could do, & it would not be prudent to kick away the ladder till I have got up; – & because there is no channel thro which so much effect can be given to what I may think it important to impress upon the opinion of the public. I could certainly transfer my communications to Weylands [7]  review (the British) where I should be more at liberty upon some subjects, but this review is merely supported by the Sidmouth [8]  party, & is likely soon to drop. it has a very limited circulation, & no great character, less indeed than it deserves. [9]  That it would be in my power to give it a lift I believe, but I refused to bear a part in it when it was first started, – because xx <as> it runs the same road with the Quarterly, it is like an opposition coach, – & the same reason would of course prevent me from sending any thing to it, unless I went to it wholly. – Another thing is that whatever credit the Quarterly may give xx me, tells directly with Murray, with whom I am more likely to make engagements than with any other publisher, – & with the readers of the Q. who set the fashion about books. My aim & hope is ere long, to support myself by the sale of half my time, – & have the other half for the completion of my Opus Majus. [10]  – When I can command 500£ for the same quantity that Scott gets 3000£ for, this will be accomplished, & this is likely soon to be the case. – Roderick [11]  is likely <will> to be too good to be popular, I have no objection however to say “Paulo minora,” [12]  & have plenty of plans which need only such encouragement as booksellers give to be put in course of execution. It is very likely that when my hands are clear I may contract for a poem & for the Life of George 3, on such terms as may enable me to kick away the ladder, & have done with registers & reviews.

My aunt I believe will see her god-daughters portrait in the Exhibition. Dawe [13]  has painted it, who will have a very striking picture there of a mother rescuing her child from an Eagles nest. You may see them both at his house in Newman Street.

Coleridges play [14]  was written at Sheridans [15]  desire in 1797, & rejected by him & Kemble [16]  at that time.