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National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 4p. . Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), III, pp. 118–121.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
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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.
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The cause of my wishing to ascertain whether I was disqualified for voting at an election, either by my pension or
office,xxxx promised so to do when I might have 100£ which I could invest vest in Westmoreland land.during the xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx thinking xxxxxxx letter sent Grosvenor Bedford xxxx xx would xxxxxxx the xxxxxxx I
had xxxxxxxxxxx I did not chuse to accept a loan for that time for two valid reasons; – the one, an apprehension
that the money, for which I should have stood indebted to one with whom I am intimate enough to allow of such a transaction, might have
in reality been adv[MS missing] from a different quarter,x my vote: – the other, a determination never to eng enter into an engagement
which it may be difficult or perhaps impos inconvenient for me to fulfill, if I can possibly help it. For the greater part
of my yearly expences must still be supplied by the years labour, & is therefore wholly contingent upon the continuance of health,
eye sight & the use of my faculties, – either of which may fail me at any moment.
It appears to me that you rather undervalue your own weight in Parliament, & do not perhaps see the
state of the board so well as a looker on. The great pieces are cleared off, & you may come in like a Castle toward the end of the
game. It appears to me that the question of the Criminal Law cannot long be evaded; – that Ministers will not take it into their own
hands as they ought to do, because they never have courage enough or foresight enough to anticipate the public feeling & thereby to
direct it: but that they would be glad to see it in your hands, rather than in those of a thick-&-thin oppositionist, to whom it
would give xx popularity at their expence; & by whom it certainly <will> be taken up, if no better person steps forward.
– Among the things to be desired, one I think is – that transportation should always be for life, & the gradation of punishment be
measured by the term for which the convict was to be employed in public works. – I wish too, seeing the constant increase of crimes,
that from among the numbers <of soldiers> &c whom we have discharged, a strong patrole had been formed, who might have retained as
much of their discipline as would have been convenient, & been subjected to the civil power. They would have been better employed
in preventing robberies & murders, – than in committing them. – which in too many instances will be the alternative.
I know not what has possessed Gifford & Murray to postpone, or set aside my paper upon the Copy–right question;s in the x
question. – There is nothing of mine in the number, & will be very little hereafter, if I can by any means avoid it.
————
I need not say how much it gratified me to see the manner in which you were spoken of by Canning the other day.xxx for in
truth the pedantry & chicanery & the insufferable delays & vexations & expence of law, are among the great evils of
existing society, – I had almost said the greatest. – One of the projects to which I look forward in the summer is that of taking up my
old friend Espriella, & putting together the hints & materials which have occurred to me during the last ten years.
Did I send you the opening of Oliver Newmanit
appears does the chance of discovering them appear. If a savage has at any time been met with who spoke Welsh, I should be
inclined to suspect that he was a Welshman who had turned savage. I dare say There are always deserters from civilization
among them. French – English & Yankee – & why not know now & then a stray Welshman?
The Spaniards have published begun to publish a history of their late war, by a Committee of Officers at
Madrid. I have a French translation of the first volume,Review premier volume, premiere partie.l’elegance out of the question – the praise is
worth having. – This work will be of great advantage to me. – I