2882. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 21 December 1816 ⁠* 

My dear Tom

I sent off D^r Cokes’s W Indies, [1]  & Kosters’s Travels [2]  per coach according to your instructions, – & to be left at Thomas Tinkler’s - [3]  where they ought to arrive tomorrow.

It seems a good while since I have written to you, & now I am in some haste, having other letters which must be made ready for this post. – I am in the last chapter of this volume of Brazil & near the end of it, – next week compleats it. [4]  But I am very busy in digesting & putting together in one systematic form what I have at different times, & in different places written upon the state of affairs at home, – of course with many additions, – under some such title as a View of the Moral & Political state of England. Part of it will appear in the next Quarterly, – & the whole in one volume as soon as I can accomplish it. [5] Murray is my publisher of course, so much coming from the Review – some xxxxxx hostility I shall provoke, – that is certain; – it is likely that I may do some immediate good: ultimate good I think certain, – – I will run over a hasty outline of my arrangement, – that you may send me any hints which may occur.

I begin by examining the assertions that the war was unpopular, – that it was the cause of the existing distress, & that Parliamentary Reform would relieve that distress entering fully into each of these questions, – & putting those parties who maintain these propositions into my threshing machine.

I then show what the real evils of society are, – the kind of Poverty which exists – the state of the manufacturers, – condition of women in society &c &c. Expose the absurdity of supposing that Reform in Parliament can xxx remove or even alleviate the least of these evils.

But I require reform in this point, – that such seats as are bought & sold be bought & sold openly, like commissions in the army, – the price being appropriate to form a fund for public works, either national or local. [6] 

I require national education, asylums for children to any number. Saving banks with Branch banks of England for their security, & for some relief from County Paper [7]  – Constant Colonization, & great Public expenditure from the Sinking fund upon public works –

That in paying off soldiers & sailors it be not done indiscriminately, – but when one regiment is kept up & another paid off, – if there be men in the one who would wish to continue to serve, & in the other who desire this discharge, – these be adjusted between the regiments – You see what I mean – for I have no time to study how to express it clearer. Can any thing be so disgraceful as to see Government turning the sailors upon the streets of London, – & then having to commission a ship to receive them again! –

In brief – as far as I am able I mean to explain what are my views of real radical reform, – writing in my own name, & therefore without any controul, fear or favour.

Oh I must not forget to say that if you can bespeak me some of the Teesdale cheeses I shall be right glad. Yours are all gone, – they were very rich, – & will I dare be better when there has been a little more practice: There was no sage cheese [8]  among them.

Love to all & from all & so God bless you

RS.

21 Dec. 1816.