1853. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 14 January 1811 ⁠* 

Keswick. Jan^y 14. 1811.

My dear Grosvenor

A wicked head ache, the cause of which I suspect will in the course of an hour be removed from its present situation into a wash-hands-bason, prevents makes me incapable of any thing except beginng a letter, – whether it will allow me to finish it is what I cannot tell. Nothing has yet been heard of Coleridge. What you said of him induced me to write him a short letter in plain but proper terms, [1]  – asking him if he did not himself feel how idle it was to go about looking for external aid (– for I wished to prevent the ultimate shame of his applying to Abernethy [2] ) – urging him to return here, this being the best place for him whether he adopts a wiser mode of life, or persists in his present destructive one, – & beseeching him to let me <be> his task-master for three months in which time, if he would only submit to the performance of as much daily work as I should require, (& I would require but little) I would engage that he should lie down at night with xx a heart at ease, & rise in the morning with a chearful one. – Something too I said about his children. [3]  He has given me xx no answer, – which is easily accounted for, for I have no doubt that this letter, as well as two former ones which I have written him, is still unopened. This practise of Coleridge’s is of all his wretched practises that for which I can least pardon. It is a sort of wilful outlawry, or excommunication of himself, – he makes himself deaf & dumb to all who have any claims either of affection or duty upon him. Never I believe did any other man for the sake of sparing immediate pain to himself inflict so much upon all who were connected with him, & lay up so heavy & unendurable a burthen of self-condemnation.

How do you bear these changes of weather, & how do you go on under Pearsons [4]  directions? & how is your mothers complaint?

Gifford at my request has entrusted Capt Pasleys book [5]  to me, which is a most excellent book, quite after my own heart, it in its plain, straight-forward system of policy. I shall be somewhat crippled by G.s. Pitt-idolatry, [6]  – but this I must manage as well as I can, by stating Pasleys opinions upon the conduct of the last war, without giving them as my own. This affair of the Regency [7]  could never have been more unhappily timed, – if I did not know Lord Hollands feelings respecting Spain & had a little confidence in some English feeling in Sheridan, [8]  which is his last remaining virtue, I should regard a change of ministry as the greatest evil which could befall us. A very great evil it undoubtedly is. It is of the utmost confidence <importance> that Lord Wellington should possess the entire confidence of the Cabinet, & be supported by them to the utmost. God preserve us from the peace-mongers!

I will tell you a secret, – there is a scheme in agitation of setting up another Review “by perfectly independent country gentleman–” [9]  – Who they are I cannot tell, but they propose to write gratuitously, & Artaxerxes [10]  applied to me to be their prop & pillar at the ten-guinea price. – I told him that the Q. sometimes paid 20, – which I dare say made him stare, – I told him likewise that I could not think of withdrawing from the Q. in favour of any other, – & x as to principles the main point with me was that of carrying on the war manfully, on which I & the review entirely accorded. [11]  Every thing else was comparatively unimportant. Withal I advised him against embarking on a concern, which if it were to depend upon <the> gratuitous-contributions of ‘country gentlemen” would not answer. Longman made this a secret – so you will not let it get abroad.

I had a handsome note from Herries containing thanks & commendations of Kehama. [12] 

God bless you

RS.