2585. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 10 April 1815 ⁠* 

Keswick. 10 April. 1815

My Lord Imperaunce

As people may bekla’agen  [1]  themselves so methinks they may congratulate themselves also, & therefore I never write mere letters of congratulation or of condolence. There could be no occasion to tell you that I was glad to hear Sarah was safe, & that the new comeling had proved to be of the more worthy gender, [2]  – because you knew it already. Moreover I am not fond of consuming ink unnecessarily, my inevitable consumption occasion compelling me to replenish the ink stand more often than is agreable. – You do well in castling your boys – & if you christen the next Bernard, it may serve as a reason (for want of a better) why he should represent a neighbouring town in parliament hereafter. [3] 

I shall come to you as soon as I am a free man; that is to say as soon as this Quarters work is performed, on the performance of which my next half-yearly payments depend. There will be two long articles, both well timed. The first upon Buonapartes expedition to Egypt. [4]  The second edition of a French history first published ten years ago gives occasion for this, – because it contains the details of the Jaffa massacre by the author who was an eye witness. [5]  Half this article is done. There are some very xx impressive circumstances in it: – none more so than the fact mentioned by a French writer that when Buonaparte travelled across the desert xxx xx to Suez the nights being as piercingly cold as the days were intolerably hot & nothing else which was combustable to be found, xx xx a fire was made to warm him & his staff of the bones & dry bodies with which the way across the desert is strewn! [6] 

The other article is upon a catchpenny, or rather catchshilling Life of Lord Wellington which I have only begun, & for which I am to be paid the ridiculous price of 100£. [7]  As soon as these jobs are off my hands, for which six weeks may be allowed, I shall visit you.

It is mournful to perceive the imbecillity & cowardice of Ministers at this time. There is a peace party in the Cabinet! including I suspect Lord Liverpool: whom it is said Ld Castlereagh [8]  would willingly turn out upon this quarrel. Todays paper sufficiently shows the difference of their temper. But with whom can Castlereagh ally himself? As for the Grenvilles – I have a letter from Wynn, which as it was written from Dropmore [9]  may certainly be understood as speaking the exact sentiments of Giant Despair. [10]  They know that war is inevitable, & that at this time it ought not to be avoided if it could: but they believe that it cannot be carried on more than two years without incurring a national bankruptcy, & they congratulate themselves that they are not in power at a time when they think no vigour & no talents could save an Administration from ruin & disgrace! – I lose all patience when I hear such nonsense as this; & am vexed when I see Wynn worrying the ministry by idle recurrances to what has been, instead of coming forward with the manly profession of what his own heart & intellect tell him, that War is the only path of safety: & that vigorous war must be succesful.

I shall print my Inscriptions [11]  as soon as they are finished & I am taking them seriously in hand. There are now ten written, – being about a third of the proposed series: & I shall probably add an Ode to the British people: & perhaps one to Buonaparte himself. [12]  Think of the wretch turning round to prate of liberty, courting the Jacobines, & abolishing the Slave Trade [13]  – he who tortured and murdered Toussaint! [14] 

If we had a more decided spirit in the Cabinet I should entirely agree with you, that war is better now than some years later. The last work was left most wickedly incomplete & what has now occurred is a memorable lesson that no policy can be sound in which the principles of justice are for a moment set aside: Buonaparte & the Marshals to the Gallows – the rest of the army to Siberia & Cayenne: there should be nothing short of this. And if Paris be burnt in the conflict, I for one shall acknowledge the hand of righteous Retribution.

The voice of the country is for war: the better part feel that we have in honour & in self-preservation & in duty no other course: the farmers have an eye to their corn, & the landholders to their rents; & the merchants also to their direct interests, which require that France should not rival them in xxx manufactures. But Buonaparte has many friends & they are like himself, active in mischief.

I have found out another opus for you when you have compleated the West Indies. [15]  – By the by Beatsons Military Memoirs (or some such title) is likely to be of use to you. [16]  I think it must be in the Newcastle Library, being a modern book. The new opus would require that you should learn Latin (tho it is not absolutely indispensable) – but this is so much the better. I will write concerning it in my next. – Here is hardly room to add Ediths congratulation to Sarah – which yet I must not forget – God bless you. RS.