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Bodleian Library, MS Don. d. 86. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), IV, pp. 87–90 [in part].
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.
Any dashes occurring in line breaks have been removed.
Because of web browser variability, all hyphens have been typed on the U.S. keyboard.
Dashes have been rendered as a variable number of hyphens to give a more exact rendering of their length.
Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
Writing in other hands appearing on these manuscripts has been indicated as such, the content recorded in brackets.
& has been used for the ampersand sign.
£ has been used for £, the pound sign
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Your letter reminds me that I have something to ask of you. You may remember telling me of a sailor in Yarmouth
hospital, after Duncans victory <Nelsons battle at Copenhagenhad acquired a sort of passion for authenticity upon all points where it is attainable, – &
you will oblige me by relating the particulars. I am about to compose a paper for the Quarterly, the text for which will be taken from
the Reports of the Poor Society,mais il y manque deux
choses, nos curés et nos hospitaliéres;place
&c. I wish to tell your story.
I am fully convinced that a gradual improvement is going on in the world, has been going on from its commencement,
& will continue till the <human> race of men shall attain the all the perfection of which they
are <it is> capable in this mortal state. This belief grows out of knowledge, – that is it is a corollary deduced from
the whole history of mankind. It is no little pleasure to believe that in no age has this improvement proceeded so rapidly as in the
present, & that there never was so great a disposition to promote it in those who have the power. The disposition indeed is alloyed
with much weakness, & much superstition; & God knows there are many disturbing powers at work. But much has been done, more is
doing, & nothing can be of more importance than giving this disposition a good direction. Percevals death was one of the severest losses that England has ever sustained: he was a
man who not only desired to act well, but desired it ardently; his heart always strengthened his understanding, & gave him that
power which rose always to the measure of the occasion. Lord Liverpool is a cold
man; you may convince his understanding, but you can only obtain an inert consent assent, where zealous cooperation is
wanted. It is however enough for us to know what ought to be done. The how & the when are in the hands of One who knows when & how it may be done best. Oh if this world
of ours were but well cultivated & weeded well how like the Garden of Eden might it be made! – Its evils might almost be reduced to
physical sufferings & death; – the former continually diminishing, – & the latter always indeed an aweful thing, but yet to be
converted into hope & joy.
I am much better pleased with Henrys choice than if he had
made a more ambitious alliance.xxxxx prayer which x comprizes all
that we need to ask; – riches always lead that way. I have seen very little of Louisa since she was a child, but before she was born I knew her mother,
who was then almost in person what she is in disposition – the ideal of whatever is womanly & lovely. You know xxxx xxxxx it
xxxxxx xx xxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxx of which I xxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxxxx) – she has as fair a prospect of happiness as could
fall to any of her sex. I know not what larger portion of the gifts of heaven can be requird than good sense, good nature & good
spirits all w with all which Henry is blest in perfection.
Why have you not been to visit Joanna Southcott?r
Simmsmy the article upon the Dissenters.
You have in Roderickflexible supple, & in mind as well as body I am less enterprizing than in former years. When the thought
of any new undertaking occurs, the question shall I live to compleat what I have already undertaken – occurs also. – My next poem will
be ‘A Tale of Paraguay’dress plant the grave with flowers, & wreathe a chaplet for the Angel of Death. If you suspect
from all this that I suffer any diminution of my usual happy spirits you will be mistaken.