2524. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 22 December 1814 ⁠* 

Keswick. 22^d Dec. 1814.

My dear G.

I have the half-note; [1]  – peradventure its conjugal part now disjunct may arrive in the letter which I expect from you on Monday, upon the odeous subject. [2] 

My opinion respecting a publication of Barres Remains entirely coincides with yours. In its private circulation all is well, so circulated a book passes for more than it is worth; whereas if it be made current it generally passes for less. [3] 

By this time I ha you have received the MSS [4]  I forgot to send with it, two single-sheet books of smaller size which contain the memoranda for the conduct of the story as they occurrd from time to time, & which ought to go with it: this is another reason for preferring the case-book (I must not say book-case.) I would have it a handsome old-fashiond back with broad bands & dead tooling: & for a thing of this kind I do’nt care much about expence <about> – an odd ten or fifteen shillings more upon the price, to make it a goodly heirloom.

Somebody has favourd me with a good word in the Courier; the character of the poem is given with good judgement, – the quotation very oddly chosen. [5] 

If Murray were to offer me 500 £ for a Register [6]  I certainly should not for a moment hesitate. Indeed I know not whether I ought not gladly to catch at the 400 £, circumstanced as I am. In that case I should advise him to begin with the peace, [7]  for many reasons. First because it would be so tremendous an undertaking to bring up the lee way from the beginning of 1812, & secondly because there is a great advantage in commencing with a new era in history. It might be worth while at leisure (if I could possibly procure it) to write the volumes for 1812–13 for <the sake of> connecting the former volumes with these – but this I should despair of – because my history of the peninsula [8]  will contain include what is to me the most interesting portion, & the only portion which I can do thoroughly as it ought to be done. And more than all, however I might spirit myself up to the undertaking, flesh & blood is not equal to it. I cannot get thro more than at present unless I give up sleep, or the little exercise which I take & I walk to the crag before breakfast: & that hour excepted, & my meals (barely the meals for I remain not one minute after them) – the pen or the book is xx always in my hand.

Had you not better wait for Jeffrays attack upon Roderick? [9]  I have a most curious letter upon this subject from Hogg the Ettrick shepherd, a worthy fellow, & a man of very extraordinary powers, whom I call the pet pig of the Muses. Living in Edinburgh he thinks Jeffray the greatest man in the world, – an intellectual Buonaparte whom nobody & nothing can resist. But Hogg notwithstanding this has fallen in liking with me & is a great admirer of Roderick. And this letter is to request that I will not do any thing to nettle Jeffrey while he is deliberating concerning Roderick, – for he seems favourably disposed toward me! Xxxx xxx xxxxx it is Morbleu! It is a rich letter! Hogg requested that he himself might review it, & gave me an extract from Jeffrays answer refusing him. ‘I have as well as you x a great respect for Southey, he says – but he is a most provoking fellow & at least as conceited as his neighbour Wordsworth”. – B[MS torn] shall be happy to talk to Hogg upon this & other kindred subjects & he should be very glad to give me a lavish allowance of praise if I would afford him occasion, &c – but he must do what he thinks his duty, &c –. I laugh to think of the effect my reply will produce upon Hogg, – how it will make every bristle to stand on end like quirrels of the fretful porcupine. The sum of it is that I despise Jeffrays commendation, & defy his enmity; that nettling is too weak a word for what I have in store for him, – that for in due time he shall be scorpioned & rattlesnaked, – yea served up to the public like a Turkeys gizzard sliced, scored, peppered salted, kiannd (how is that word spelt?) grilled & properly bedevilled. [10] 

God bless you

RS.

What can I call the Ode? Can you find any thing to stand with Carmen, – Annuum I will not use, nor will I call it Ode for the New Year, – for I will do nothing that I can avoid toward perpetuating the custom. – How would Carmen Hortatorium do if there be such a word. [11]