4043. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 16 July 1823
Endorsement: RS to JR 16 July/ 1823
MS: Huntington Library, RS 441. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.
Note on MS: The final page of the MS includes the following note in Rickman’s hand: ‘2 Inches thick/ A Veined Slab –/ 6 Feet by 4 Feet/ with a xxxx xxxx/ and small Vxxxx/ light Vein – Slab/ The polished, and/ Inscription – Rxxxxan –/ out and blackend –/ as follows –‘xxxx’
The only alterations which I have made in the Banavie inscription – are in v. 6 which is to be read
Record the architects immortal name
& v. 8
The whole great work was planned & perfected
both for the sake of not repeating the same expression in different inscriptions.
– I send the alterations now that because there is no correcting a stone cutters work like a printers.
Some improvements I have made in the other two, – but as they may wait for more – I will not send them in their revised form at present.
What a fate for the Dodo!
God bless you
RS.
July 16. 1823.