2623. Robert Southey to John Murray, 26 June 1815 ⁠* 

Keswick. 26 June. 1815

My dear Sir

I have received your draft, & thank you for it. I am glad that the article upon Wellington has not disappointed you, – but I perceive strong objections to putting it forward in a different form. [1]  Where it is, it is pretty much as it should be: – there was an excuse for presenting an abstract of the Dukes life, because a catchpenny volume had taken up the subject at length; & there was a cause for doing it, because it was right to show the country what grounds we had for engaging in the present contest with hope & confidence. But I should be very unwilling to put it forth as a life of Wellington which might be supposed to be intended as a companion for the life of Nelson. [2]  The limits of a review (tho I trespassed somewhat beyond them) xxx xx xx xx xxx allowed me to hurry over those parts of his latter campaigns, which, as far as I am yet provided with materials for them, (tho of the highest importance) have none of those rich circumstances that they can be twice told with effect. I was indeed compelled to hurry over them, – but glad to do so, because of my history. This is one reason. Another xxx is that this late victory [3]  would come in with the awkwardness of a postscript, – to which by the time it was printed there would probably be another postscript required, & still the story would be left incompleat. To me it might be injurious, & I should certainly feel it discreditable, to be accused of catching at temporary subjects, & writing for the demand of the day. And ultimately it might be disadvantageous to us both, – for this campaign may well be expected to furnish matter for a paper in your review, – & to the enlargement of that paper there may possibly be none of these objections, as it might form the groundwork for a History of the Campaign.

I possess the Ethiopia Alta of Tellez, [4]  of which Salt says there are only three copies in England; [5]  & I possess also the original work of Francisco Alvares [6]  which is much more rare. If the Portugueze book of which you speak be the work of Bermudes  [7]  I shall be very glad to see it. – but still more if it were the Ethiopia Oriental of Joam dos Santos. [8]  I am very rich in information upon this country, & expect to produce an interesting paper, containing what has never yet been given a fair account of the history of the Jesuits in Abyssinia. [9] 

You see I rightly supposed that Campbells Travels lay within M^r Barrows xxx line of demarcation. [10] 

When you send to me next, remember that I have not had the number which precedes this.

Gregoires Sects will be my next long article, – a good subject & much in my way. [11]  – We talked once of Huntingdons Works, – fish of that kind make an excellent dish when properly drest & served up with the right sauce. [12] 

believe me my dear Sir

yrs very truly

Robert Southey.