2773. Robert Southey to John Murray, 27 April 1816⁠* 

Keswick. 27 April 1816

My dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for your very friendly letter. My loss has indeed been heavy; [1]  – you may suppose what my wishes respecting a son would be, & in this child all those wishes were realized to their utmost extent. The only consolation is to be found in that firm & habitual religious feeling for which I thank God more than for all the other blessings which he has bestowed upon me. – During the progress of the disease I was entirely incapable of withdrawing my mind from the one object which almost overpowered it. Now that the event is over I seek relief, & find it, in various & continued exertion.

The La Vendee article [2]  is nearly compleated, & if Jeffrey have written one upon the same subject, so much the better. [3]  Upon that, & upon every subject which we may happen both to take in hand, he will neither possess half the information which I have acquired, nor bring to it half the power, much of which consists in a steady principle & a proper state of mind. I have read carefully every book which you sent me respecting La Vendée, & have found every one of them useful.

The subjects which you propose are all excellent, – & for three of them – the foreign Travellers in England, – the Poor, – & George 3 – I have begun my Collections. [4]  – the Poor you shall have for the next number, – & one such article I shall be very glad to supply for every number in succession, as long as you may think them worthy of such a price. I need not tell you that they will be executed totis viribus, [5]  & that as I shall xxx touch upon no subject without a competent knowledge of it, the effect which it may produce must depend more <mainly> upon the subject itself. Also

Believe me my dear Sir

yrs very truly

Robert Southey