3079. Robert Southey to Elton Hamond, 21 February 1818
3079. Robert Southey to Elton Hamond, 21 February 1818 *
Keswick. 21 Feby. 1818.
Dear Sir
I am very much obliged to you for your information concerning the Duke of Wellingtons correspondence with General Dumouriez, [1] – which I should of course be well pleased to see, – rather however as a matter of curiosity, & for the sake of leaving nothing undone, than in the expectation of finding much that would be either new or serviceable. For I believe I am in possession of the Dukes views & opinions during every part of the struggle, & Dumouriez has published all that he knew concerning Portugal, – & also his own notions as to the method of defending it. He was very desirous of obtaining employment there in the Portugueze army. Yet if at any time you can procure me a sight of this correspondence, or inform me thro what channel it may be procured, – you will confer upon me an additional obligation.
Believe me my dear Sir
Yrs faithfully & obediently
Robert Southey.
Notes
* Address: To/ Elton Hamond Esqre/ 109. Great Russell Street/ London
Stamped: KESWICK/
298
Postmark: E/ 24 FE 24/ 1818
Endorsement: 21st
Feb 1818/ Southey/ to Hamond
MS: Dr Williams’s Library, London, Crabb
Robinson MSS. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK
[1] Charles-François du Périer Dumouriez (1739–1823) was a French Revolutionary general who defected to Austria in 1793 and lived in Britain from 1804. Dumouriez corresponded with Wellington during the Peninsular War, advising him on the topography and geography of Portugal – advice Wellington found largely inaccurate. As Southey was planning his History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832) this correspondence might have contained material of interest to him. Dumouriez had visited Portugal and had published An Account of Portugal, as it appeared in 1766 to Dumouriez: Since a Celebrated General in the French Army (1797). BACK
