1630. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, [16 May 1809] ⁠* 

My dear Tom

I was wondering what could be become of you, till the Courier told me Admiral Sotheby was cruising in the Channel, [1]  – good luck to your cruise & a seasonable supply of prize money! –

Since last I wrote Herbert has had the croup, – & we as you may suppose were in great anxiety. He is now thank God recovering his looks, – for the bleeding left him dismally pale: – the blister is healed, – & very thankful we are that the means of treating a disease which till lately was almost always fatal, are now so well understood.

Ballantyne the bookseller (the Printers brother) sent me a note yesterday, saying he was arrived at the R Oak, & would be happy to wait on me at whatever hour I might appoint, – so I asked him to dinner, – a lucky piece of civility on my part, – inasmuch as it appeared afterwards that he was come from Penrith on purpose to see me, & returned there the same night. Of this I had not the smallest suspicion. The matter was this: I had in a letter to Scott said that a Review of old books, – that is of any books, except such as were in the province in the contemporary Criticism, – would answer if it were well conducted. Scott talked this over in London, & Ballantyne returning from thence came commissioned to treat with me about such a work. Things will not be finally settled till I have seen Scott who offers to take a great share in the work, if I will conduct it – I am offered 100 a year as editor, – & ten guineas a sheet. the thing to be in quarterly five shilling numbers, – & the name which I propose is Rhadamanthus, – he being the Judge of the Dead. [2]  I can rely upon Wm Taylor for material cooperation, & hope for some from Rickman & Turner, possibly from Lamb, not impossibly from Coleridge. There are some things which Lloyd could do well, if I were not afraid of his flux of writing, – but I shall talk to him. If this plan be carried into effect I shall need no other lucre-of-gain work, for the quantity of my own contributions will depend upon myself, & I can with ease write 150 pounds worth in the year. The trouble as Editor is merely that of writing letters, receiving articles, suiting them to the number, & correcting proof sheets – And as I would not begin till I had the quantity for two numbers ready, – all anxiety arising from improvidence or want of punctuality in others would be prevented.

Ballantyne speaking of the Quarterly said he hoped they would leave alone the business of the D of York, [3]  – thereby implying a fear that they would defend him, which would destroy the Review. My immediate answer was that if they did, – or if they took up the Anti-Jacobins politics I should immediately withdraw, – & in all likelihood this will be the case, unless the foreknowledge which they must have of this determination of mine should prevent them. For to Gifford I explained my principles, & to Bedford expressly stated that as soon as the book ran counter of them I should break off the connection.

I expect Scott daily, with his wife, on their way to Edinburgh. they stopt one night, – & if they arrive in the course of a week I go on with them. It is likely that my knowledge of Ballantyne may prove profitable, – the Edinburgh publishers are to Longmans, what the Liverpool are to the Bristol merchants. They speculate boldly & find their account on so doing

Kehama will soon be finished. Ereenia has now reached the throne of Seeva [4]  – Next book gets to Padalon, & then one more compleats it. [5]  These will be the wildest books, & I am now like the mules in the Alps, snorting at sight of the place I have got to, – presently down we go. Huzza – hot weather here, almost stewed in my study, – but nothing to what it is in Padalon. Think how that fellow Kehama will look, standing – red-hot, on one of the legs of Yamens throne, & grinning at his opposite leg. [6] 

God bless you – my next shall be begun sooner & written better

RS.

Your navy-papers shall find a place somewhere – the more I think of them the more I feel their importance. [7]