2548. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 3 February 1815 ⁠* 

Keswick. 3 Feb^y 1815

My dear Grosvenor

If this reviewing affair ferrets you & disorders you, the best way to please me is by throwing it behind the fire, & leaving the book to chance. It is sure of being treated with civility, – & you know how little I care about these things. I need no proofs in print of your disposition towards me, nor your feelings concerning the poem. [1]  So discharge your mind upon that score, & mount your horse, & ride over now & then to Streatham, & put yourself in good condition for some mountaineering exploits next summer. I was wondering at your silence, & grumbling when every evening when the letter-woman disappointed my daily expectations. – Ana, is the Guadiana. [2]  Lona [3]  the little river which runs by Orense, – Ponferrada & Villa Franca are the too largest towns places in the Bierzo, [4]  which you the road between Lugo & Astorga crosses it. The Visonia [5]  is one of its mountain streams, hardly to be found in maps. This is merely to satisfy your curiosity, – not for you to make use of, – for I prohibit farther progress in your task.

Tomorrow I send off the conclusion of Lewis & Clark. [6]  You would not alter your opinion of Murray were you to see a letter which I received from him f a few days ago; – but there is hardly any thing in which I differ so much from the public as in toleration. I take men & books as they are, the good that is <can be found> in them is so much gain, – & the bad concerns not me. Murray is a thriving man, he lives in a literary atmosphere, or rath & catches the itch of criticism from those who frequent his room, very few of whom have any better principles of art to proceed upon than himself. He is a good bookseller; that is to say he understands his own interest, & of course he deals with me accordingly. The most important of all literary works to hi in his eyes, is naturally his own Review, [7]  – & considering me as one of his best workmen in that line, he values me in proportion, & thinks that I can never be so well or so worthily employed, as in penning what he calls a chef d’œuvre, for that immortal miscellany! – His letter proposes to me to review a catchpenny life of Ld Wellington, [8]  it must be a chef d’œuvre, <written> con amore  [9]  &c &c – & he actually proposes to pay me 100 £ for three sheets upon this subject. The letter is as coxcombical as need he be, as booksellerish as can be, & yet mixed with all this it has some good sense. I need not tell you that I want 100 £ as much as any body, & laud the Gods for it, – but was there any thing ever so preposterous! when the emoluments which I receive for great & solid works are compared with such a price!

He says nothing more about the Register, [10]  – & I suppose it is one of his ways in trade thus to throw out prospects & proposals as anglers scatter ground bait. No matter; with so much in hand – vœ mihi!  [11]  I am better without new objects.

I take it for granted you received my most miserable ode [12]  & forwarded it to Sir William, Knight of the Fiddle. And I would fain take it for granted that as it has not got into the newspapers, the fiddling ceremony has been dropt – & that the said ode may in due time pass silently to the family vault. The rhymeless ode, which had some thing in it, I shall polish up, & insert in the edition of my minor poems which is now in the press. [13] 

I have thought much upon what you advise respecting Derwent, & believe it the best advice that can be given, – the next question is xx what Office would be most desirable? & xx in what direction must interest be made?

The Moon thanks you for the grammar &c, & says very truly that “it tells more things’ than either of his others – which is very just. He & I are beginning to learn German together; – learning to him is mere sport, & this is the age to have languages put into him.

When you have any money for me I must trouble <you> to pay Hyde for a suit of clothes. [14]  – Good night! I hope to finish Lewis & Clark before supper. Your books then comes in turn. [15]  I am sure you are wrong about Lambs review: [16]  – it may have been faulty in arrangement but I know that no man living writes prose with more exquisite felicity. He complains of having all connection, plan & purpose destroyed by mutilations, – & he instances one <the> alteration of a single word as a specimen of the spirit in which <all> the alterations have been made. It makes the whole sentence stark nonsense. But Gifford is the Devils own sow gelder when he gets a review in his hands. I beseech you continue to secure my manuscripts, as vouchers that I neither contradict myself, nor write like a fool; both of which might most justly <be> inferred from what he sends into the world for me. – One of his ways is to drop a sentence or a paragraph & let ‘therefore’ stand in what follows – In very truth I would rather he reviewed a book of mine in his worst humour than x altered an a paper of mine in his best.

Remember me to all at home & once more good night

God bless you

RS.