1247. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 23 December 1806 ⁠* 

My dear Rickman

Now that the Emperor or Imperial Abbot is fairly reinstated upon his throne, I know once more how to direct, & having just finished off the Capitaneus [1]  proceed to tell you of my goings on.

Coleridge is gone to Wordsworth in Leicestershire [2]  on his way to London, where he will perhaps give the Lectures which have been advertised. [3]  Tom left me on Friday, having been appointed to the Pallas, [4]  – I have some hope of his promotion, for Wynn has mentioned him to his Uncle. So I am left alone to my winter occupations, & truly they are quite sufficient to employ me. Two months however, if no unlucky interruption prevent, will be sufficient to clear all off, & send Espriella & Palmerin into the world. [5]  I have an additional & weighty motive for dispatch. The times being South-America mad my account of Brazil, instead of being the last work in the series must be the first. [6]  There are in the bookcase downstairs at your housex sixteen bundles of sealed papers. Those papers contain more information concerning South America than his Majestys Agents have been able to obtain at Lisbon – more in all probability than any other person in Europe possesses except one Frenchman, now returned to Paris. [7]  he has seen them, & is very likely to get the start of me: – unless, which is not improbable, Bonaparte should chuse to withold from the world information which would be of specific use to England.

Concerning these papers, of whose contents I was till last week ignorant, my Uncle has written to me, urging me to make all possible speed with this part of the work, & desiring me to offer the information to government. I inclosed the letters up to Wynn, & it may be that he will advise me to come up to London upon this business. I hope not. I should rather wash my hands of all other business first, & then can certainly in half a year accomplish a large volume, – for on this subject there is no collateral information to hunt for. A very few books contain all the printed history, & there will be more difficulty in planning the work well than in executing it. – There will be business of some consequence in the way of map making xxx which will delight Arrowsmith, my Uncle having very valuable materials for a map of Brazil.

This is of so much consequence that it will perhaps be advisable to let the Palmerin sleep & so save a months time, which may be better spared for it when I get the book fairly in the press – but this we shall see. I have the first materials here & can advance some way with them. Wynns letter will instruct me whether to set to work for myself, or for the government – giving them information is God knows throwing pearls you know to whom – but so the pearls be paid for, – well. The best thing they could do for me, & for themselves if they really want information respecting South America – is to send me to Lisbon for that specific purpose – without any ostensible charge.

As you may suppose we were all here as staunch Paullites [8]  as the son of the Mermaid himself. There is nothing in the world like resolute – straightforward honesty. & is sure to conquer in the long run. I have been reading Quaker-history, which is worth reading because it proves this, & proves also that institutions can compleatly new mould our nature, – for if the instinct of self defence can be subdued, nothing else is so powerful. – Fox’s death is a loss to me – who had a promise from him – but I will not affect to think it a loss to the country. he lived a year too long. England cannot fall yet, blessed be God, because its inhabitants are Englishmen – but if any thing could destroy a country it would be the incurable folly of such governors, & the utter hopelessness there is of getting better ones with such a representation. My plan for reform is to sow Hounslow Heath with hemp & inclose it with gibbets. [9] 

How is Mrs Rickman? – a question of more consequence than where is the key of Prussia – or if the Russians have cut off a regiment of French. We go on tolerably well. Poor Herbert indeed rests neither day nor night for flatulence – yet he grows – & is uncommonly lazy for his age. My daughter goes on excellently well – if his brain be but as capable as hers, much as I should hope – my hopes would be satisfied.

Have you seen the Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson? [10]  If not by all means read it – it is the history of a right Englishman, – & the sketch of English history which it contains from the time of the Reformation is so admirable that it ought to make even Scotchmen ashamed to mention the rascally name of Hume. [11]  I have seldom been so deeply interested by any book as by this.

Inclosed is some verbal criticism for Duppa  [12]  which because of its duplicity profits by the Imperial Abbots privilege – a better title that than Lord Bishop – God bless you. – Can you by means of any Almanack vade-mecum [13]  or memorabilia tell me the dates of the Kings message which led to the war, [14]  of Despards Execution [15]  – & of Emmets insurrection [16]  – things necessary to be touched upon by any friend from Spain?

Tuesday. Dec. 23. 1806.