2170. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 2 November 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. Nov. 2. 1812.

My dear Tom

You have another niece whose name is to be Isabel, for want of a better, however this I think is a bel name. I could not have ventured upon its masculine for a boy, because the pun on jest would have been an unlucky one. Isabeau, otherwise a good name of Anglo-Norman days. She was born a little before noon, this day, but we had been upon the alarm ever since two o clock on Saturday morning: slow but not xxx <otherwise> unfavourable for Edith, but a very bad time for me. Send me as good an account from S^t Helens, in all respects, except the gender, for as far as that goes I hope the young one will be qualified for an Admiral.

Your Omniana [1]  will be directed to Mr Castle’s. [2]  The book is published & may perhaps reach Durham before you receive this. Have you had the proofs of Nelson? [3]  the seventh reached me this afternoon. It will be a beautiful book as far as relates to the printers work, the plans [4]  will no doubt be correct as coming from the Admiralty xxx xx xxx Murray promises to have as good an engraving as can be had of the portrait. [5]  My part looks better in Mr Moyes’s handy-work [6]  than it did in my own – & I augur well of its success.

Xxx There came a letter to me yesterday which would have amused you had you been here. – From an Evangelical Parson to return me thanks for the benefit he has received at my hands by reading Thalaba at the recommendation of the Christian Observer. [7]  He says it has “strenghtened his faith”, & requesting permission to send me “a sketch of the instruction to be drawn from it”. [8]  – the moral of Thalaba by an Evangelical! And he concludes with a fine compliment & the happy quotation about The Poets eye in a fine frenzy. [9]  – There are few persons who cannot find out some claim of acquaintance at second or third hand, & this gentleman tells me that he is the person who bought Lloyds car two years ago.

Have you noticed some notable advertisement about Seilis, implying that he did not kill himself? [10]  There is a damnable story about this mystery, – which is believed & very believable, – & a still more damnable one invented for obvious purposes of mischief. The key to this dark affair is said to be that Seilis (an Italian) was jealous of Neal [11]  the page, – who had supplanted him in the D.s favour. Likely enough, & bad enough. – The xx cursed story which is spread abroad is thus explained in an epigram which Sharp repeated to me – .

Sharp says this was written by Sheridan [12]  – which is not to be believed, how he could for a moment that Sheridan the uniform defender of the Princes should be the author of such an attack is inconceivable. The Independent Whig [13]  is now under prosecution for insinuating this. I suppose it ventured upon so preposterous a lie, in full confidence that the business would not be brought forward in public by the D. You must know that there are a set of wretches who live upon the vices and follies of the Princes; they watch their private lives get at their secrets, & then lay them under contributions as the price of abstaining from telling these things to the public! O Tom. It is not all the hurricanes of this tempestuous time that will wreck that good ship the Constitution, – but she has a whole xxxx <cargo> of Jonahs on board, [14]  any one of them would sink the best life-boat.

Our love to Sarah & a kiss to Margaret – I am very tired, & wish it was bed time.

Harry has been miserably tormented in your old way, [15]  with great danger of fistula, but is recovering. An Amsterdammer & xxx suppurated. He has taken a house – 28 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square.

God bless you

RS.