1170. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 22 March [1806] ⁠* 

I had an Oxford Sausage once [1]  – but where the Devil it is now is more than I can tell. tis a book easily found. has not Wynn one? As for Mary Latter [2]  I do not remember even her name – there is a Mary Leapor I think of whom I marked out specimens at Hills  [3]  – but these things may now wait for my appearance. I am surprized at the patience of Our Fathers. you have been requiring xxxx exertions from them as much out of their way – as it would be out of mine to open a ball at court.

xxx To a pleasanter subject. It is you who are mistaken about the Butler. Whoever knows you well Grosvenor knows that your talent is for humour, & of this extravagant character. You were trained up at Westminster in the way which you should go. Other things you may learn to do well – but not excellently; this you can do inimitably well by merely following your own genius, – I think you can do it better than any person before you, & that you may take the first place, without danger of ever being superseded. Put the book together [4]  – this will be amusement not labour – show it when it is done to Elmsley – (my daughter calls him Emily) – to Wynn – to W^m Nicol [5]  – to Herries. take their opinion upon it – I am sure it will coincide with mine.

I know not how the second cargo of Espriella [6]  past you by – but it is no matter as you will soon see the whole of what is done. It is my purpose to work hard in London & go abroad as little as possible. Shall you have leisure sometimes to go sight-seeing with me, with a pair of foreign spectacles on? [7]  – This last week has been a sort of holyday with me – I have done nothing but read Beausobre [8]  & sketch out a strange piece of biography which went off last night to one of his Majesties Under Secretaries of State. [9]  – You know that I have done with reviewing for ever – Heaven be praised. This is the boldest thing I ever yet ventured to do for it has been my sheet anchor. Rats & mice & such small deer have been my food for seven long year. But if I stay in Portugal the resource will not be needed, & if I do not, the materials collected there will be better ways & means on my return. [10]  My brother Harry will go with me & be my fellow traveller there. I wish you could see him, – you never saw a young man of manners & person more prepossessing or of finer promise.

Thank you for the quotation about Deicide– the word of course signifies both crime & criminal like Parricide. [11]  – This leads me to think of the Reviewers & that to ask you whether by the Horatian way you can get Duppa taken care of in that review which to the disgrace of Britain is called the British Critic? [12]  – I am intriguing in all directions to get him fairly used – in the Edinburgh – in the Critical & Annual I think he is safe. [13] 

Wynns marriage gives me very great pleasure. [14]  it is about one o clock with him, & he has a long afternoon to look on to. I think it too not unfavourable to happiness to have been once disappointed.

_________

When you & I dispute about poetry we argue from different premises. I wish you would buy the Lyrical Ballads [15]  – if you have them not already. You will see in the Preface & Postscript my critical creed. Since the days of Pope our poetical language has been systematically barbarized. – I shall weed Thalaba [16]  – it was my intention to have woven in many more mythological ornaments – but there are enough already, & it will perhaps be little more trouble to write another Mohammedan poem hereafter. Your remark upon the proposed alteration in Madoc is a very judicious one & has great weight with me. I shall make the alteration – & perhaps let the fault remain till a convenient season. [17] 

You will not see me in London so early as you expect. I hope to drink Wynns health on upon the bridal day – which is not long! [18]  – but it will be silently – among people who do not know him. The case is that I am obliged to alter my plan of operations, & for the sake of returning by way of Herefordshire upon some troublesome & unpleasant business for my Uncle, [19]  must elbow eastwards to Norwich on the road up. It is four years since I have seen William Taylor, & as God knows when there may be another opportunity I am going to pass a week with him. He is one of the men in the world for whose talents & knowledge I have the highest respect, & for whose individual virtues the greatest affection.

I had forgotten my friend D^r Dodd. You are right enough about the joke, which perhaps is none even to you yourself. say what you will about him or leave it <for> me on my arrival at your own pleasure – something should be said to this purport, that he was a rascal – but that it is to be hoped the country will not long be disgraced by so many executions for xxxxxx forgery. [20]  I can send you no specimens – but you may buy on my score the Doctors poems – in Cookes [21]  edition. I will have them for two reasons – <first> the one – because a long poem written by a man who is going to be hanged is a curiosity – & secondly – because there is portrait <print> of D^r Dodd in a full-bottomed wig receiving a visit from an Angel in Newgate.  [22]  So if you walk near Paternoster Row call at Cookes & lay out three or four shillings in the purchase of this book – NB the best edition – ie – the fine paper, in decent binding

I shall write our Preface [23]  in London – we have a hundred things to talk about – & now – farewell till we meet.

Saturday 22 March