1495. Robert Southey to Henry Herbert Southey, 16 August 1808 ⁠* 

Dear Domine Doctor

Great news. King Arthur is deposed, & Thomas Rees (brother to Rees of the firm) reigneth in his stead. [1]  An excellent Revolution, huzza! – I have written to the new King about your money, & before he received my note, there came one from him saying that he had set apart some books for you. The Aikins are offended, & like the last ministry all resign in disgust, – I am sorry that Wm Taylor hangs with them, – he is a staunch advocate for party fidelity, – but King Arthur deserved his deposition, – & did not deserve any sacrifice on the part of W^m. T. whose articles he used to caponize so cruelly.

I have written to my Uncle recommending that you translate & publish a volume of travels in the interior of S America, from his MSS. now in my hands, consisting of 1. a voyage up the Rio Negro & part of the Amazons, 2. a voyage up the Madeira (this is Englished by my Uncle already, & th needs only transcription with its verbal omissions filled up) & 3. a voyage to the Lake of the Xarayes, [2]  – for which it is my opinion that 150 £ may be got, at least, – which you will find very acceptable, – & very easily earnd.

A homo of Gateshead by name John Adamson hath written me civil letters with a bad translation which he hath published of a worthless play from the Portugueze. [3]  I have written him civil answers (Domine, thou knowest that it is my nature to be civil) – I am about to lend him three little volumes, & he promises when he has done with them, to deliver them into your hands. [4]  It must be confessed that in desiring him to return them thro this channel I had an eye to thy fingers & his pulse.

We really expected to see you from your former letter. Whenever you do come, if you have no better nong place to x nong-long-paw at, you may prudently remember that you saw Jacksons brother once, – & that he lives at Aldstone. [5]  They have desired me to make it my halting place whenever I go to you, – & Domine I shall one of these days, when you have a bed to put me in, buckle on my knapsack, & set off on a pilgrimage to the shrine of S^t Cuthbert. [6] 

The title page of the Cid [7]  is on my desk. O Domin, the most venerable of all my title pages, – a title page after my own heart, & worthy of the days of Wynkin de Worde & Caxton. [8]  Nothing remains but to finish Freres incomparable translations which form the appendix, [9]  & in a fortnight the book will be published; – soon enough perhaps to be inclosed in your first parcel from Thomas Rees.

John May has heard that Sealy [10]  consents to your marriage whenever you make 300 £ a year by your profession, – an income which Johnny shrewdly remarks implies considerable slaughter. – I shall be glad to send Mary a set of all my operas, equipped in Lady’s livery, whenever things are upon such a footing with her father, that it can be done with propriety. He I am told is going to Falmouth, to seize the first opportunity of getting to Lisbon. Well done the Spaniards & Portugueze! I never doubted their deliverance when they began to stir, – I never doubted the resurrection of those nations since I knew them.

Here are at this time two floating islands above water at the head of the Lake, – one has been there this month, the other came up on Saturday. It is a great pity that you are not here to bottle gas, make experiments, & draw up a scientific account. A stream of water from the side of Barrow [11]  sinks into the ground & is lost before it reaches the Lake, – if this stream finds its way to a stratum of pyrites, the phenomenon is accounted for: but it is not so easy to guess by what power they are kept buoyant.

I wish Domine it was possible for me to send you money. The will for the deed is but a bad substitute in all cases, & in none so bad as in this. It would be well if you & I could part with a little spare wit, enough to set up a gentleman-punster & a gentleman-poet; – & also if we could find any purchaser who would buy a good for nothing rich Uncle of us, at half price.

I have within the last three months written above 1000 lines of Kehama, every line before breakfast. What says my Lord Lazy to that? & thus I mean & expect to finish the poem.

God bless you

RS.

Aug. 16. 1808.

Tom complains that you do not write.