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Duke University Library, Southey papers. Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), II, pp. 8–12.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
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My last was written in great haste,
I have now one trouble to request of you in consequence of this determination; – you have some pictures – & some
few books of mine – with the set of Picartexpence <cost>. My library is advan <study> is hardly if at all less
than yours; it is one of the most delightful rooms you have ever seen, & it will be well filled when my books are all gathered
together, as they are now likely to be, – a source of no little joy to me. & when they are collected, the only inconvenience of
this situation will be in great reason removed.
The expence of getting my scattered things together, – of book-shelves – & of a few decencies, for the want of
which the prospect of removal has hitherto been an excuse – I shall be well able to meet by the end of the year; – if till then, you
will supply me with fifty pounds it will be a great convenience, – the state of my affairs with Longman is this. When last in London I had 100 £ of him, – in fore payment for the first
edition of Espriella,it was my share of its profits will pro in all probability be more. He has on sale or our
joint account The Specimens – the Metrical Tales & Madoc.to edition of Madoc & the Met Tales) the sale cannot have been much, or I should have been made
acquainted with it; – but every copy which sells is clear profit. By the Specimens Bedfords mismanagement will I suspect make me lose credit & prevent me from
getting money – I shall try to remedy both evils by a supplementary volume.
My reviewing used to exceed 80 £ for the last three years. I did little this year because I would not, much as I needed
the money, sell the time. so Harry had half the books which came to me. And <as> now I have nothing to impede me from prosecuting
the Brazilian historycan affects my brain too strongly, & my sleep is disturbed by perplexing dreams concerning it:
in the remedy is easy – I do one thing in the morning, another in the evening, – & never dream of either: & thus
it is that I am enabled to do so much. The Cid – comprizing a history of the heroic age of Spain – will go to press as soon as some
books from Madrid arrive, which my Uncle has sent for. I know not whether
they will reach him in time for the next convoy – but I expect Rocha Pitta’s America Port.I as I can without this book of Rocha Pitta, – & must in the course of a few days begin with another part in
consequence. My first volume will be compleated early in the winter, – & the Cid I hope published early in the Spring
– I shall do no reviewing except of a friends book, or of new travels which I want to read & cannot obtain by any other means.
Has Ld Roslyn (I think this is his title – the one who was upon the strange embassy to Lisbon)on account <because> of the
state of his account – but he applies to me to send him a Master of Arts Gown, – & some black silk stockings – being in want of
both. Now I must apply to you – having nobody else to apply to – Send them to him as a parcel from me, & I will settle for them in
the first draft which I shall be able to remit –
The country is becoming very beautiful – I wish there were hopes of seeing you here, & showing you our lakes &
mountains – your god daughter, & little Herbert. Early in the winter you will probably see me – I purpose travelling to London to
examine a few books necessary for compleating the notes & preliminaries to the Cid, – & perhaps to may put the first
volume of Brazil to press at the same time.
Tom writes me that his ship has at last got a weeks cruise – & they have taken
a privateer in that time of 14 guns. I know not what his share will amount to, it cannot be much, but it has put him in good spirits,
& the weather has put him in good health. – Whether Lord Cochranet V.> but the Pallasthree four hours on deck) till they were both so ill that the Captain – which he ought to have done sooner – allowd an
old Midshipman to take charge of the deck. The men have now learnt their duty.