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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 24. Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), III, pp. 339–341 [in part; misdated 17 May 1812].
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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Southey’s spelling has not been regularized.
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I received a note from Lord Lonsdale on Saturday inclosing a
reply from Lord Hertford to his application, – which reply states that a previous
arrangement had been made for the office of Historiographer.malicious splenetic enough to wish
you some friend would show him my historical labours in one scale & his pamphlett in another, – & then
congratulate him upon his appointment.the <things> possible I most desired an appointment
at Lisbon, – if it had been given me when it was desired, & when it would have been honourable in Foxxxx perhaps I should never have surmounted. That hope having failed I looked to
that good ship the Historiographer believing myself better qualified for the post than most men, & perhaps more
<than> any <other> man, ambitious of fulfilling its duties, – but that good ship it seems is still condemned
<destined> to be so ill-manned as to be perfectly useless.
This evening I have a very letter from Canning
couched in the most handsome & friendly terms. He does not know that the office is disposed of, but hints at difficulties in the
way of his obtaining it, (even supposing he were in power) – which Gifford has
explained. He concludes with expressions & professions of good will which I doubt not are sincere. But there is nothing to which I
can look forward.
Say to Gifford that I must beg him to end with my article
instead of beginning with it. I am close prest with the Register
I have never had leisure to write to Blanco since he sent me
a very satisfactory & interesting reply to some questions respecting the Junta.
The end of these wretched negociations & squabblings for place will be I suppose that the present ministry will
keep their places, – joined I should hope by Canning. Ld Castlereaghxxx effect, – the first town
in which they put a British seaman to death shall be laid in ashes.& were I minister, – & I
would instantly sweep their ships from the seas.
Did you receive a book of Pelayo
I wish you were here to see the country in full beauty. Your godson has just learnt to read Greek, & I expect in my next parcel a grammar & vocabulary for him. He promises well, if it please God that he should live.
I am going xxxxx in July Eastward for about a fortnight, – on a tramp with Danvers, to see my two
brothers