1133. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, 17 December 1805 ⁠* 

Dear Danvers

Inclosed is a draft on Longman for £40.

We daily expect to hear of Coleridges arrival. [1]  He left Malta early in September. his own letters say that he was to go to Naples & that Sir A. Ball [2]  was to use all his influence to get him sent with dispatches overland by our Embassador there, – at any rate he was coming by land. Since this letters have been received by Lamb from Stoddart [3]  saying that he had heard from Coleridge who had got as far as Trieste on his way. I conceive he would be at Vienna about the time of Macks rascally surrender [4]  – in time to get off, – & that he will make a sweep round thro Prussia. However, tho in good hope, I am somewhat more anxious than I chuse to say to Mrs C .

The Count [5]  leaves us on Friday for London. I have put him in the way of making a book which, if he can find means of subsisting, while it is in hand, will certainly be productive to him. Specimens of the English Prose Writers – chronologically arranged, with brief biographical & critical notices. [6]  I have given him a list which is as compleat as I can make it, & marked for him as many Specimens from the old & curious books here as will make at least a quarter part of a volume. Lamb will give him some help, & Wm Taylor some. He is in a fair way of making by these hearty shoves a book of much respectability, & of very likely sale, – & of acquiring more knowledge during the operation than he would ever have got by any other means. I take no small merit to myself for having discovered something which he can do, – a work <thing> nearly as difficult as to double the cube. You will not say to any body what I say in this tone of him. Poor fellow he wants <about> five hundred a year to make him in good health, good spirits, & a favourite with every body. However he is much better than when he arrived.

I am ominously fearful that another batch of my criticism has been burnt at the Printers! & dread every day to see a letter from King Arthur beginning ‘I am sorry to say &c.’ Luckily the Review can have been but just begun, & I am in no danger of being a pecuniary sufferer, except by as <eventually> in the former case, – except by loss of time.

I must go to London as soon as the reviewing season is over – which will be in March – Is there any chance of seeing you there? If not I shall at any rate see you at Bristol either then or early in the Autumn. It is not possible to determine any thing about taking Edith till we see what turn political affairs may take. If a continental peace be patched up x most likely Bonaparte will then bully the Portugueze – But I not much apprehensive of this. Prussia will either act as a mediator, or turn the scale against him, – the former the more probable, the latter the more desirable event. If Prussia takes part against I expect to see an attempt made to reestablish Poland. it is not likely to succeed, because all the peasantry are better off under their present Masters than they were under their former ones, – their nobles have posts & pensions, & their men of enterprise are engaged in the service of their new countries. Burnett has left me no wish for the reappearance of Poland as a separate state, tho they are a noble race of men.

Little Edith has for these two nights been very unwell with incipient ja jaundice. We have just given calomel [7]  & opium, & she seems better – tho the remedy has cannot have taken any effect. You would be surprized to see how forward she is in her tongue.

Espriella gets on well. [8]  I have told Longman it may go press by the first of February, by which time half will be transcribed. – it is my xxxx leisure work, taken up at intervals, but a months set-to would compleat it. Both that & the Cid [9]  will be published before the summer, if no ugly accident interfere. So that I have good reason to expect this next year will better my finances materially. And from Lisbon I shall return rich with materials. [10]  If Sir Domine’s love adventure do not stand in his way [11]  I shall wish him to go over with me, or join me there, & be my travelling companion thro the whole of the northern provinces.

Ediths love. Remember me to Basileus. it is a great loss that he is not at hand to look over Espriella with a foreigners eye.

God bless you –

yrs affectionately

R Southey.

Tuesday Dec. 17. 1805.