1281. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 3 March 1807 ⁠* 

My dear Rickman

Galvam [1]  & Caramuru [2]  may come at your leisure in a box with the M.S.S. which it would not be prudent to hazard by sea in the general removal. [3]  There are the nine volumes on the shelf below stairs – two or three which I am not very well acquainted with in the cupboards there, – & one upstairs in the bookcase beyond the fireplace – a folio, bound but not lettered – which is very stupid & very unsightly.

Of books relating to South America I recollect a folio parchment Chronicle History of the Augustinians in Peru – purporting to be a first volume. [4]  such books being usually printed volume by volume. Hist: of Peru by <Z>Garate <Carate> 1 thin folio [5]  – & another by Diego Fernandez two thin ones [6]  – they stand side by side in the bookcase beyond the fireplace – & another Hist. of the same country by Pedro Cieça – a small thick volume bound in something more like dried lemon peel than any thing else – & not lettered. [7]  this is probably down stairs. Ther I am in no hurry for any of these; – but at your full leisure – (of which heaven knows you have little enough) they may as well come with the MSS. If they should not fill the box put in any thing Spanish or Portugueze.

I did a good months work in February. My friend Hans [8]  is got safe home to his country, – I go next to the Paraguay with a lyar called Cabeza de Vaca, – who worked miracles in Florida & brought home that foolish story of there always being a race of hermanphrodites there who were the undertakers – I dare say you have seen a picture of them – The man went governor to the Revis Plata (may I not call it the Plata at once – & so drop the silver etymology & – the single word becomes a mere name as it should be without any meaning.) & was sent back to Spain by the soldiers.  [9]  He wrote his own commentaries, & there is a German adventurer by name Hulderic Schmedel [10]  who was there at the same time & writes on the other side – so the truth is to be got at between them. After his expulsion a party made their way to Peru being the first march across the continent in that direction. I think my title must be Brazil & Paraguay. [11]  Here is a History of Paraguay by the Jesuit Charlevoix [12]  which is of all lying books the most impudent. I know not where to look for authority when Schmidel [13]  leaves me. There is however one comfort in historifying that no time needs be lost. While I wait for material for one part I can proceed with another.

You will receive a book from Our Fathers which are in the Row [14]  – which I dare say will put me in a cold sweat, & cost me sundry of those interjections which are vulgarly called oaths, before I have cut the leaves open; it being, by the few pro sheets which have sent me one of the very worst printed books that ever was seen. You will observe that I have xxx given the merit of this in the preface to G CBedford, as being his due; As some of my books have been too good to sell, I hope this will be more fortunate as the same objection certainly cannot apply to it.

There is a Spanish poem among my books which ought to have some Brazilian matter in it I forget its title – but it one of the small quartos rather thicker than usual – in dark binding – & relating the life of one whose name was Diaz or Dias – & I think – but am not sure – Pedro Diaz. [15]  A rude wooden cut upon the page represents him having his throat cut or his brain knocked out by the French – for I believe he was one of the forty Jesuits whom they took on their way to Brazil & murdered them all. If the Capitaneus discovers this in his search let it come in the box. Think what a delight it will be to me to have all my books about me at last – ranged round a better study than I could ever afford to have elsewhere. A journey to London every other year will enable me to do all that needs to be done there.

Remember me to Mrs R.

God bless you

RS.

[MS torn]rch 3. 1807.