2477. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 2 September 1814 ⁠* 

Keswick. 2 Sep^t. 1814

My dear R.

To days Courier confirms your history of the reestablishment of the Jesuits. [1]  We now want only the evidence of an Auto da-fe to prove that the Romanist religion is now as it was two centuries ago, & that evidence is likely enough ere long to be afforded.

I have just read Salts Travels, [2]  – he is very ill info uninformed in the Jesuit history of Abyssinia. & seems to have little other information respecting the Mozambique shore than what his short stay enabled him to collect on the spot. He might have found me & my books of signal advantage use to him. – The two first & two last <vols> of Humboldts [3]  travels came to me the other day: a most valuable traveller sans doubt – but a most provoking one, for upon the slightest opportunity down he plunges into the abyss of xxx generalities. He should have written a plain narrative like the Yankee Explorators, & given his disquisitions apart.

Is there any chance of seeing you this autumn? – Remember me to Mrs R.

God bless you

RS.