2012. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 4 January 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. Jan^y 4. 1812.

My dear Grosvenor

Concerning the Devils Advocate [1]  I believe in every instance the text of his speech will justify the comment. You have heard of x xxxxx taking the ear the wrong sow by the ear, – he had better take a wild boar by the ear than hawl me up to London upon this quarrel. I should tell him it was true that I had said his speeches were translated into French & circulated thro all the departments of France, but I had not said what has since come to my knowledge, – that when they were thus circulated nobody believed them genuine, – nobody believed it possible that such speeches could have been uttered by an Englishman. I should ask the House (that is his side of the House & of course in that humble language becoming a person at the bar) – at what time they would be pleased to let their transactions become matter for history, – & I should give him <the party> a gentle hint not to delay that time too long, for when a few years had reduced their reputations like every thing else find their level, & if he & such as he do not get into history soon, – they may run a risk of not getting into it at all. I should speak of the situation in which Spain & England stand to each other, & contrast my own feelings with those which he has continually expressed. I should appeal to the whole tenour of the book whether the design of the writer was to vilify Parliament, or to bring the Government into contempt. And as an Englishman, – a man of letters – & an historian I should claim my privileges.

Phillidor [2]  has made his appearance, & shall be returned in the first parcel, – with the reviewal of Azara. [3]  Out of pure conscience I have promised Gifford to take all their S American travellers myself, because I cannot bear that the Edinburgh should gain credit upon this subject, when I am so much better versed in it than any other man in England possibly can be. I am heartily glad the State of S America is in Blancos hands, [4]  – it will be highly useful to the review, – & I hope to himself also, – for he works hard with little benefit, to h & when he has once tried his strength in the review it will not be difficult to find other appropriate subjects for him. I have a high respect for this mans moral & intellectual character, & earnestly wish it were possible to cure him of his vexation by a pension, which never could be more properly bestowed. Canning has smitten the Q. with a dead palsy upon the Catholick question, [5]  – or else Blanco could supply such an exposition upon that subject as would entitle him to any thing which Mr Perceval could give.

Here is a man at Keswick who acts upon me as my own Ghost would do. He is just what I was in 1794. His name is Shelley – son to the Member for Shoreham, [6]  – with 6000 £ a year entailed upon <him>, & as much more in his fathers power to cut off. Beginning with romances of ghosts & murder, & with poetry at Eton, – he past at Oxford into metaphysics, – printed half a dozen pages which he entitled ‘the Necessity of Atheism” – sent one anonymously to Copplestone in expectation I suppose of converting him, – was expelled in consequence [7]  – married a girl of 17, after being turned out of doors by his father – & here they both are in lodgings, living upon 200 £ a year which her father [8]  allows them. He is come to the fittest physician in the world – At xxx At present he has got to the Pantheistic stage of philosophy, & in the course of a week I expect he will be a Berkeleyan, for I have put him upon a course of Berkeley. [9]  It has surprized him a good deal to meet for the first time in his life with a man who perfectly understands him & does him full justice. I tell him that all the difference between us, is that he is 19 & th I am 38. & I dare say it will not be very long before I shall x succeed in convincing him that he may be a true philosopher & do a great deal of good with 6000 £ a year, – the thought of which troubles him a great deal more at present than ever the want of six pence (for I have known such a want,) did me. He is brimfull & overflowing with every thing good & generous, – tho the Oxford-men were as much shocked at him as if he had had hoofs & xxx horns, four & forty iron teeth, & a tail with a sting at the end of it. God help us, the world wants mending tho he did not set about it exactly in the right way. – The worst thing which I hate in the world is a rogue atheist, who talks about xxxxx toleration for the sake of destroying religion – the next thing is a Bigot who makes religion a scare-crow, & by his manner of belief proves that he would have believed in one faith just as well as in another. I do not say that it would have been either right or expedient to keep Shelly at Oxford, – but this I will xxxxxx swear that when they expelled him they sent away more genius & better principles than they kept behind, – that is better in their root, & which will one prove themselves so by the fruit which they will bring forth.

God bless you Grosvenor

RS.