3187. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 6 September 1818⁠* 

My dear Grosvenor

If you had written to me in extenuation as you term it, I should have been as nearly angry with you, as any thing could make me: – for how could I possibly attribute any thing which you had said to any motive but the right one, – or wherefore should I be more displeased with you for not liking the my intended epistle, [1] xx more than you were with me for not liking your Dalinatian or Damnation wine: the roughness of the one did not ple suit my palate, nor the asperity of the other your taste. And what of that? I dare say you think quite as favourably of your wine as before, & I am not a whit the less satisfied with my style objurgatory. But let that pass.

I hope you have bought Westalls views of the Caves. [2]  When you come into this country next you must see thexx Cave country, & I will go with you. & D Manuel Alvarez Espriella shall be of the party, & keep a journal. [3]  So bear this in mind & consider it as an engagement.

In the midst of daily & almost hourly interruptions I am getting on with Brazil in such a way as to be tolerably well contented with the quantum of my labours. [4]  But I can hardly call a single hour my own. Poor Lloyd is in Keswick, & I hope the better for being here, & for feeling himself treated exactly as he used to be, with no reference to his malady, – over which he has a perfect controul. It is a pitiable & strange derangement, – for his intellect was never clearer, nor his conversation more interesting, or xxxxxx {more} discriminating & acute, at any time of his life. The General too is arrived, & the Beaumonts [5]  are here, & Wilberforce is coming. Wordsworth brought Ld Lowther here two days ago to pass the evening. And not a week passes without sundry Lakers each with his Letter. By the by your Frenchman [6]  has given me the go by. He was at Lowther some weeks ago, & said he was coming here, – but non est inventus. [7] 

Roderic is going to press for a fifth edition. [8]  When I see the Long Men I shall talk to them about the prudence of trying one of my poems in a cheap form, close printing without the notes, so as to sell for three or four shillings, & find its way into all country shops. I do not think it would in any degree interfere with the sale of the other edition, – but I believe that a great many would sell among persons who cannot or will not afford 16/^s. & that we should not only gain by this sale, but indirectly by the good effect of popularizing my writings. [9]  Kehama [10]  also is in the press – for the fourth time, but the editions have been smaller than those of Roderick. Of Roderick the editions were 1 500, 1500, 2000, 2000. Of Kehama only 2500 in all. I do not wonder at the difference, – it is as it ought to be, & yet Kehama is the greater work, & that by which I shall be known as a creative poet.

The Maximus Murray had left much of his greatness in Albemarle Street, – notwithstanding he came in his own carriage. He brought with him a brother Bibliopole – Blackwood of Edinburgh, [11]  – they were full of his (Blackwoods) Magazine, in which Murray has engaged; – I let them talk & throw out their hooks, gave them a dinner, & set them off well pleased with their entertainment; in which no hospitality had been wanting, & nothing had been said to put them out of humour with themselves & their own projects.

I have just purchased Giffords B Jonson. [12]  He supposes that the Laureate continues to receive his tierce [13]  of Spanish Canary, & recommends him yearly to drink to old Ben in the first glass. Tell him if he will get me reinstated in my proper rights, I will drink to Ben Jonson not once a year, but once a day, & to him also. – By the manner of which he speaks of Sidneys Arcadia [14]  I conclude that either he has never read the book, or has totally forgotten it.

So you are to have a Palace Yard Meeting tomorrow [15] ; – so few weeks have elapsed since Hunt [16]  was beaten & blackguarded in the face of the mob, till his own miscreants hooted at him, – & yet you see he is in full feather again. [17]  This fellow ought to be tried for sedition, – he would certainly be found guilty, xxxx for the jury as yet would be nothing worse than Burdettite, & therefore disposed to give him his deserts. And during the time of his confinement he should be restricted to prison diet, kept from all intercourse with visitors – & left to amuse himself with the Bible, the Prayer Book, [18]  & Drelincourt upon death [19]  – or the Whole Duty of Man [20]  for his whole Library. At the end of two years he would come out cured.

Do you not let xx Have you paid the worthy Israelite to whom I am indebted so much on the score of civility, that part of the debt which consists in a money account for freight, & cartage? [21]  –

God bless you

RS.

Sep^t. 6. 1818.