1362. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 22 September 1807 ⁠* 

My dear Rickman

It is unusually long since you have heard from me, [1]  & during that interval I have been passing something like a grass-hoppers summer, – boating & mountaineering with various droppers-in. Bathing in the lake, – painting book-shelves, arranging & re-arranging the books upon them, & rather enjoying the sight of them than making much use of them. There are something more than two thousand volumes in the room, & I shall find place for about 500 more when they arrive. The rest must be lodged in another apartment. You will be well pleased to see their comely array, & the oeconomical manner in which we have contrived to save binding & yet give the unbound books a respectable appearance.

My idlest season however is not wholly unproductive. On the arrival of the expected parcel from Lisbon I lost no time in preparing a portion of the Cid for the printer, & have already received two proofs from them: which I am sorry they did not pass thro your hands. [2]  But as my plan is to add the essential notes in loco, – & reserve the discursive & supererogatory for the end, the sheet shall be sent to you by & by for your perusal & annotation before their after-crop of remarks be sent off. Section by section the references are placed in the margin, after the goodly fashion of old times, at the end of each, – & at the beginning in like manner the argument, or contents – The notes are numbered 1, 2, 3 &c in every book. I do not think any thing which can facilitate the readers progress has been overlooked.

Biddlecombe provokes me with his tedious delays. Whenever the wind blows with a wintry sound I think of my books & am tempted to let fly an execration at him for having detained them till the summer is over, & then doubled or trebled the risque of their voyage. [3]  Not to mention that there are many of which I am in want. – There are the little quartos in the cup-board below stairs xxxxx of the Jesuits letters from their various missions which contain matter to my purpose. Whether these little be Cartas Annuaes [4]  I am not certain. They are thinnish volumes, & rather in better binding than usual. Upstairs there is also a thick duodecimo entitled Vieira Lusitano, [5]  bound, & so lettered, if I forget not. I made when abroad an abstract of this singular poem, (the most interesting in the language, tho wholly neglected) which would produce five or six guineas in the Athenæum, [6]  but in transcribing it, the book ought to be at hand. When you have convenient opportunity consign these three books to Longman, for conveyance here.

A very pretty concluding chapter our wise Generals have cut out for the History of the River Plata! – I am glad of the evacuation of a country which none but fools would ever have dreamt of keeping & am consoled for the disgrace by recollecting how much of it rests upon the shoulders of Craufrd whom I abhominate for his babbling about fortifications & his admiration of Mack. [7]  There is also a great fitness in his being defeated & taken by a volunteer force. What is to become of Portugal? what of Brazil? – Beyond all question our policy should be to induce the Court to remove there. There is a danger that France may get possession of Lisbon, & send French troops to protect Brazil.

You have probably by this time received Palmerin. [8]  I doubt whether, having read Amadis, [9]  you will have patience to read it; – if you have, the progress of morals from the days of the one romance to the other will shock you as something curious.

Remember me to Mrs Rickman. I shall see her before the winter is expired, & rely upon her coming here next summer.

God bless you –

RS.

Sep^t. 22. 1807

I am glad to read of Tobins marriage. [10]  My God – cried George II when I read the paragraph to him a second time (he never hears anything the first) – why I thought to have had her myself! – Yet it appears that he never saw the Lady, – & if he had certes she is better off with an eyeless <blind> husband than a brainless one.