2740. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 18 March 1816

2740. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 18 March 1816⁠* 

My dear R.

Here is part of a story which is very characteristic, & upon which volumes & volumes have been written. [1]  My next chapter brings Vieyra the Jesuit upon the stage, – I have scarcely ever derived so much amusement from any book as from the fourteen volumes of his sermons; [2]  they are r richer in historical matter than Latimers, quainter than that good old Bishop himself, [3] – & with a power of language which certainly never was surpassed by any writer in any age or country

RS.

18 March. 1816.

Notes

* Address: John Rickman Esqre// St Stephens Court/ New Palace Yard/ Westminster
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Endorsement: 18 March 1816
MS: Huntington Library, RS 274. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] Southey was sending Rickman part of the second volume of his History of Brazil, 3 vols (London, 1810–1819). Chapter 25 (II, pp. 381–448) dealt with conflicts in Paraguay between the State, Church authorities and the Jesuits in the 1640s. BACK

[2] Antonio Vieira (1608–1697), Brazilian-born Jesuit, preacher and statesman. Southey introduced his activities in History of Brazil, 3 vols (London, 1810–1819), II, pp. 456–500. Vieira’s Sermõens varios, e Tratados (1679–1748) was no. 3771 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. They are still regarded as the supreme achievement of Portuguese prose. BACK

[3] Hugh Latimer (c. 1487–1555; DNB), Bishop of Worcester 1535–1539, preacher, and Protestant martyr. His Frutefull Sermons (1575) was no. 1614 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. BACK