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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 25. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), II, pp. 128–130.
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.
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.
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I am in some discomfort about the fiddlers & that unmannerly fellow Sir Wm Parsons, – fellows who have still a claim upon me, notwithstanding the implied
condition upon which I first acceded to the situation, & Ally Crokers
This poem has grown under my hands, perhaps had I been aware of its extent Longman would have chosen to give it a quarto form: – for it will most probably exceed 1000
or lines, making from sixty to 70 pages,xxxxxxxxx Agent in
this matter between him & the Long men. – The subjects which I think of
having engraved are Waterloo Church, an outer view of Hogoumont, an inner one, & a view of Ligny;the x
Sirius will manage this. There is another inner view of the ruins which
will make a good etching, & to which we may allow double length, & I would have etched or wooden vignettes of La Belle
Alliance, La Haye Saint, & Les Quatre Bras,which of which faithful representation will give an
interest to the book. Of La Haye Saint we have no sketch, but we may take that from the panoramic print, unless another should offer
from any private sketchbook. – I am very full of this poem at present, being quite in tune for it.
I gave Longman as a title to announce it by, merely La Belle
Alliance, – there is a necessity for enlarging it as you have seen, & the new title is both more suitable & more
excit likely to excite curiosity. Tell him therefore of the alteration when you see him, or if you think it worth while
inform him of it by a note. – Part of my books are arrived in the Row, & I believe the Acta Sanctorum
Murray has sent me Sir J Malcolms book to review, & I have read it for that
purpose. It is just that kind of book which would enable me lead me to put more matter into a reviewal than the work itself
contains, – but at a great expence of time & labour –
I have done something to Brazilr Dove,re in the title page, – this is a notion only half a day old.at
this time whether I do not lose more than I gain by giving up so much time to reviewing; – & whenever that ceases to be
doubtful, huzza for a joyful emancipation!
Remember me to all at home. We are going on well – the Venerable
speaks of you as ungratefully as ever, – I have had a visit from a young American physician of New York.