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Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin. ALS; 4pp. . Previously published: Charles Ramos (ed.), The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), pp. 174–176.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
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You have probably heard from Henry of my procrastinated
purposes of moving, & the long series of anxieties which have embittered, & in part occasioned the delay. Those anxieties are
materially relieved, but by no means removed. Edith is about once more; – the
danger of an abscess is over, – but she has still a pain troublesome affection of in one breast, & it is very
evident that there is something wrong in the general system, which I hope air, gentle exercise, & cooling fruits, when we can get
them, will correct. The Child has recovered from a severe illness,
& seems to be doing well.
Loath as I am to leave this place in summer, a summer journey has many advantages over a winter one. Short nights for
travelling, – no inconvenience from cold in the mail coach, – fewer acquaintance in town, & therefore more leisure for my work
& my friends. I hope to see you in the course of June. Having brought down the Hist. of Brazil to the time of the Emigration,June 23d, 1819’ (p. 879).brought together <collected> from various sources a clear & comprehensive general view, –
province by province as far as I have yet proceeded. The volume however will be so large (above 800 pages
I never worked so continuously upon any one thing as this concluding <volume> for the last six months.
One consequence of this delay will be that I shall see Richmond in full beauty, – which even to one from the Land of
Lakes, is a sight worth seeing, & worth going to see, – for in its kind it is perfect, & there is nothing like it elsewhere. I
expect to be about six weeks between London & Streatham – or a week out of the
time at Worting if my Uncle should be there. Prepare the way for me to Mr Walpoles papers in the foreign office, – & I will work at them diligently, till I have got from them every
thing concerning the Memoir, & concerning the history of those years.His
extracts from the correspondence of his predecessors have been of great use to me, – you will see them frequently referred to in this
third volume;
Hartley Coleridges success at Oriel is a joyful event for
all his family.
You will have seen Wordsworths poem,
The world is going on Our home politics are now of such a nature that scarcely any political question is
worth a wish one way or the other; & one looks at the petty warfare between the Ins & the Outs, (the main & almost only
difference between them now being that the one are out & the others in) as at the
struggle in a puppet-show (if you ever saw one) – when it is pull Devil, pull Baker, & none of the spectators care a farthing which
pulls the strongest.
I hope John Coleridge will not be keeping holyday out of
town when I arrive there. Remember me to him, – & to Mrs
May & Mary & Susan, – & tell Charlotte