4031. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 17 June 1823

MS: National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 3p.
Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), III, pp. 394–395 [in part].

My dear Wynn

I have spoken to the Vicar

⁽¹⁾

concerning the Gretna Greeners.

⁽²⁾

They have been here about a fortnight & must compleat two months before they can be remarried; & for this I suppose they are waiting, as they have given no intimation of their intentions. They have taken the house which M^r Bunbury built. One of the Ladies is said to suffer under considerable depression of spirits at times; but their general conduct has been such as if they sought rather to attract observation than to shun it.

It was of Burnets Own Times

⁽³⁾

that I spoke. A most entertaining book it is, & undoubtedly a very valuable one, but its value consists altogether in the materials, which are sometimes somewhat the worse for the workmanship. Have you seen Sharon Turners third volume?

⁽⁴⁾

The York & Lancaster period is given better than by any other author, – very much so. But he has hurried over Henry 7’s reign.

⁽⁵⁾

I find in Strada

⁽⁶⁾

that Leicester

⁽⁷⁾

engaged to turn Catholic & bring over the kingdom, if the Spanish Court would further his design of marrying Elizabeth.

⁽⁸⁾

The letters of the Spanish Ambassador

⁽⁹⁾

communicating this to his government were in Strada’s hands.

⁽¹⁰⁾

The wisest thing the Royalist Government in Spain could do, would be to restore the Cortes according to its ancient form.

⁽¹¹⁾

With this shadow of liberty appearances might be saved, & an able ministry might prepare the nation for substantial freedom, of which they are at this time incapable. In Portugal I know, it was not the absolute government which disgusted the better order of men, & made their hearts revolt, but the odious & scandalous perversion of justice, which made every petty magistrate a tyrant.

⁽¹²⁾

The fair administration of the laws (which in the main were good) – & a habeas corpus act,

⁽¹³⁾

would have remedied half the evils in Portugal. Concerning Spain I cannot speak with the same knowledge, but I believe that in this respect what is true of the one country, will for the most part apply to the other. But supposing that wise administrations could be formed in both countries (& what a hopeless expectation is this!) where are they to find revenues? & how to be supported till national tranquillity, & with it industry & prosperity can be restored?

God bless you
RS.

17 June 1823

Notes

1. James Lynn (1776–1855), Perpetual Curate of Strood 1805–1814, Rector of Caldbeck 1814–1820, Vicar of Crosthwaite, Keswick 1820–1855.[back]

2. Wynn had written to Southey on 8 June 1823 telling him of the arrival in Keswick of two female cousins and their husbands. Both couples had eloped to Gretna Green and were now seeking to remarry in the Church of England. Wynn asked Southey to vouchsafe – if required by the Vicar – that both women now had their father’s (William Wynne of Peniarth, 1774–1834) permission to wed. The women were Elizabeth Wynne (1805–1826) and her younger sister, Elinor Wynne (1806–1869). Their respective husbands were William Pierrepoint Gardiner (1806–1831) and Richard Burton Phillipson (1801–1864).[back]

3. Gilbert Burnet (1643–1715; DNB), History of his own Time: from the Restoration of King Charles II, to the Conclusion of the Treaty of Peace at Utrecht, in the Reign of Queen Anne (1724–1734). A new critical edition by Martin Routh (1755–1854; DNB) appeared in 1823, which Southey reviewed in Quarterly Review, 29 (April 1823), 165–213, published 27–28 September 1823. The book was no. 498 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]

4. Sharon Turner, History of England (1814–1823), no. 2838 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library.[back]

5. Sharon Turner, History of England, 3 vols (London, 1814–1823), III; pp. 254–376 dealt with the civil wars of 1455–1471, while pp. 586–639 covered the reign of Henry VII (1457–1509; King of England 1485–1509; DNB).[back]

6. Famiano Strada (1572–1649), De Bello Belgico Decades Duae 1555–1590 (1635–1648).[back]

7. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (1532/1533–1588; DNB), a leading English statesman and Governor-General of the United Provinces 1585–1587 in their war of independence against Spain.[back]

8. Elizabeth I (1533–1603; Queen of England 1558–1603; DNB).[back]

9. Guerrao Despèo (dates unknown), the Spanish Ambassador to England in 1569.[back]

10. Famiano Strada (1572–1649), De Bello Belgico Decades Duae 1555–1590, 2 vols (Antwerp, 1635–1648), II, p. 400.[back]

11. French forces had invaded Spain on 7 April 1823 to restore royal absolutism. In medieval times, the Cortes of Castile had consisted of three estates – nobles, clergy and representatives of the towns. The Constitution of 1812, which the liberals had restored in 1820–1823, consisted of one chamber.[back]

12. A liberal revolution in Portugal in 1820 had led to the adoption in 1822 of a constitution similar to that in Spain.[back]

13. The Habeas Corpus Act (1679) in England prevented detention without trial.[back]

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4031. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 17 June 1823

4031. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 17 June 1823

The Collected Letters of Robert Southey: Part Seven

Lynda Pratt, Ian Packer