3145. Robert Southey to Henry J. Monck Mason, 2 June 1818⁠* 

Keswick 2 June. 1818

My dear Sir

It will not be my fault if your brothers book [1]  should not be treated with that respect which is always due to a work of laborious research. And I assure you it is by no act or concurrence of mine that any unnecessary severity ever finds its way into the Quarterly Review. The principle which I have more than once declared is that whatever author comes before the public with the result either of his observations as a traveller, or his researches in history, antiquities &c, is so far as he communicates {adds} any new information to the existing stock of knowledge, a public benefactor, to be thanked for what he had done, to be encouraged & advised (if it be needful) for what farther he may intend to do, but in no case to be treated with severity, unless there be any mischievous opinions uppermost in his mind. For this is the only fault which can either require or justify that tone of criticism at present, unhappily, & to the disgrace & injury of literature, so prevalent. If a book be merely good for nothing – mole ruit suâ, [2]  – neglect, loss of time & perhaps of money, are a penalty more than sufficient for the writer’s mis-estimate of his own powers. In the present case I have expressed myself strongly to this purpose in time certainly, & I hope with effect, tho I am perfectly ignorant into whose hands your brothers work will be consigned. – It has more than once happened that papers in the Quarterly have been imputed to me by the offended parties, when I have expressed to the publisher, in private, & in the strongest manner, my utter disapprobation of the tone & temper of the criticism, & perhaps of the opinion pronounced upon the work.

I am exceedingly glad to hear of your success in your truly patriotic undertaking, [3]  & not a little surprized that D^r Troy [4]  should sanction such a publication with his name, [5]  – his English brethren keep most consistently aloof from all such cooperation. At the Revolution in 1688 Scotland was in a more barbarous state than Ireland is at this day, I say more barbarous, because you could not at that time have found any where in Scotland men who in mind & manners were entirely upon a par with the gentlemen of England, as you find them now every where in Ireland. Education has been the great instrument of the change, – a good deal also was owing to the military roads & the good use which was made of the military after the two rebellions. [6]  Whenever your country shall be cured of those atrocities which might be got rid of in one generation by a xxx combination of xxx civil & military law adapted to such circumstances, it will speedily outstrip Scotland in prosperity. Its natural advantages are far greater, & the Irish character, deplorably as it is sometimes perverted, is compounded of better & finer elements.

I shall be much gratified by seeing some of your cheap books. Pray express my thanks to M^r O Reilly, [7]  – to whom I shall find some opportunity of acknowledging my obligations in kind. If it be directed to the care of Thomas Blakeney Esq^r [8]  – who holds some office, I believe, in the Customs at Whitehaven, [9]  it will reach me safely.

You were unfortunate last year in your weather, & I was unfortunate in being absent during the whole of your visit to this country. We have now had the finest month of May that was ever remembered, & are beginning to complain of sunshine & drought.

M^rs Southey & xxx her sisters [10]  join with me in compliments to M^rs Mason [11]  & your family

Believe me my dear Sir

with sincere esteem –

Yrs faithfully

Robert Southey.