2484. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 9 October 1814

2484. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 9 October 1814 *
9. Oct. 1814
My dear R.
At length I have news from my buen Amigo [1] D Manuel, who it seems is in high favour at court, much to his own satisfaction. He has sent me the statement of Escoiquiz (Ferdinands Tutor) concerning the business at Bayonne [2] [MS torn] contains such some curious facts: & – a transcript of the Poema del Ferran G[MS torn] from a MSS in the Escurial, [3] (– a metrical history of the 12 or 13 century): & he has also induced the Royal Academy [4] to elect me an honorary Member, for which, under one of their covers, I have returned my due acknowledgements in form. Concerning present affairs he is altogether silent. But he invites me to Madrid, – & perhaps if I could find a fit companion I might be induced to spend three months next year in the peninsula, in acquiring topographical knowledge for my history, [5] & seeing the actors chief actors in the war. Mina, [6] Palafox [7] &c &c –
I have <been> spending ten days from home, chiefly at Wordsworths, & am returned this afternoon to a world of occupations. Remember me to Mrs R., & plague on the public business for preventing your journey northward when the season has been so unusually fine.
God bless you
RS.
Notes
* Address: To/ John Rickman Esqre/ St Stephens
Court/ New Palace Yard/ Westminster
Endorsement: RS./ 9 Octr. 1814
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark:
FREE/ 12 OC 12/ 1814
MS: Huntington Library, RS 233. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished. BACK
[2] Juan Escoiquiz (1762–1820), whose Idea Sencilla de las Razones que Motivaron el Viage del Fernando VII a Bayona (1814) (‘Honest representation of the causes which inspired the journey of King Ferdinand VII to Bayonne’) had dealt with the meeting between his former pupil (Ferdinand VII (1784–1833; King of Spain 1808, 1813–1833) and Napoleon Bonaparte at Bayonne in April-May 1808. At the meeting, Ferdinand VII eventually abdicated, leaving the way open for French control of Spain. BACK