3029. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 12 October 1817 ⁠* 

My dear R.

You have rubbed up my memory with regard to Warner, [1]  – so I have written to him, & will turn his information, – if we can get any, to account.

I have bespoken the subject of the Poor from Murray, – the Report will serve for text, with a pamphlett of Sir E Brydges, & another by T. P. Courtenay, which I believe was only printed for the use of the committee. [2]  –

I have heard nothing of Giffords illness but except what you tell me. He is a miserable sufferer from ill health, so much so that I marvel how he can carry on the review, having to contend with unmethodical habits to boot. – As far as I can understand whatever is vacillating & timid in the management proceeds from him; – this is doing harm enough, – & yet he is more injurious as a writer than as an editor, by waspish criticisms upon worthless books. Hazlitt I hear is fool enough to suppose that I reviewed his Round Table in the last number. [3]  If I ever think it worth while to lay hold of that scoundrel, he shall xxxx feel the difference between my hand & Giffords.

I am not uneasy about the missing portion of Brazil. [4]  It is that portion which Longman withheld from the press before I went abroad, & doubtless it will be forthcoming now that I have made enquiry for it. Indeed by my not receiving an answer from Longmans house I suppose it has been found, & that I shall speedily have a proof sheet.

Except a few days of equinoctial storms we have had fine weather ever since you left us. I am now settled regularly to work; – long winter evenings enable me to idle away time in the fine season; & that idleness provides me a stock of health & animal spirits <life> for the season of hybernation.

Here is an old schoolfellow [5]  of mine who bears testimony to the Divining Rod; & protests that in his hand it is an unerring indication either of water, or a vein of metal: A green hazel twig held bet in both hands & bent like a bow vibrates perceptibly both to the sight & feeling upon passing over either the one or the other; & this he says, he has repeatedly proved. Others, he says, have made the same proof, but it does not succeed with every one. He is a man not likely to be imposed upon himself, & utterly incapable of imposing upon others.

The girls desire to be remembered to Anne. [6] M^rs R. will be in the country when this arrives. – We took a cart from Buttermere round thro Borrodale last week, & I thought on the way of Shakespere & M^r Clark [7] 

God bless you –

RS.

Keswick. 12 Oct. 1817.