3358. Robert Southey to Herbert Hill, 6 October 1819

3358. Robert Southey to Herbert Hill, 6 October 1819⁠* 

Keswick. 6 Oct. 1819.

I was not a little surprized at learning on my return that the publication of my xxx xxxx unlucky volume [1]  was delayed, owing to the loss of a proof sheet, & the want of brains in all persons concerned with it, – for if they had sent the sheet to you, the delay might have been prevented. – Whatever the mss from Para [2]  may contain, it would not be advisable to introduce it now, – a good deal may be expected from it – which I shall take care to have ready for insertion in its proper place, whether a time for so doing may occur during my life, or not. Koster has sent me over a paper upon concerning the same part of the country, written by a man [3]  who is a native of Para & held the office of Procurador there, – but is now Juiz di Fora at Paraiba. The manner is sadly Frenchified, – but there are some facts which I wish I had obtained sooner.

Lord Lonsdale sent to me to meet Prince Leopold at Lowther. [4]  I am not sorry that I did not reach home till a week after the expiration of his visit.

The Rickmans [5]  left me this morning on their way to town, where they will arrive in about a week. We have had a prosperous journey, without let or accident, & with weather uninterruptedly fine. [6]  My head is nearly healed, – I shall be glad when it is quite so, that I may be able to clean it thoroughly. I found all at home in tolerable health, – Cuthbert quite strong & thriving.

I must now fall to work, – upon Wesley, [7]  & the Peninsular War. [8]  The former will not require much time, – about a third of the second volume is printed.

Love to my Aunt

God bless you

RS.


Notes

* Address: [in another hand] Keswick Sixth Octr 1819./ Revd. Herbert Hill/ Streatham/ near/ London/ J Rickman
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmarks: [partial] 10 o’Clock/ OC. 9/ F Nn/; FREE/ 9 OC 9/ 1819
MS: Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, WC 187. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished. BACK

[1] The third and final volume of Southey’s History of Brazil (1810–1819). BACK

[2] When the parcel containing this work arrived, Southey found it to be nothing more than another copy of Manoel Aires de Casal (1754–1821), Corografia Brazilica, ou Relação Historico-Geografica do Reino do Brazil (1817), no. 3252 in the sale catalogue of Southey’s library. BACK

[3] Probably a paper by Thomaz Antonio Maciel Monteiro (1780–1847), Brazilian lawyer, later a member of the Supreme Court and 1st Baron Itamarca. BACK

[4] Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg (1790–1865; King of the Belgians 1831–1865; DNB), widower of Princess Charlotte, had visited Lord Lonsdale at Lowther Castle 25–28 September 1819; he met ‘a numerous party of the gentry in the neighbourhood’ and received the Freedom of the Borough of Appleby, Morning Chronicle, 2 October 1819. BACK

[5] John and Susannah Rickman and their children. BACK

[6] Southey’s tour of Scotland lasted from 17 August until 1 October 1819. For his record of events, see Journal of a Tour in Scotland in 1819, ed. Charles Harold Herford (1929). BACK

[7] Southey’s The Life of Wesley; and the Rise and Progress of Methodism (1820). BACK

[8] Southey’s History of the Peninsular War (1823–1832). BACK

Places mentioned

Keswick (mentioned 1 time)
Lowther estate (mentioned 1 time)