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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. d. 47. ALS; 4p. . Previously published: John Wood Warter (ed.), Selections from the Letters of Robert Southey, 4 vols (London, 1856), III, pp. 214–217 [in part].
These letters were edited with the assistance of Ian Packer and Lynda Pratt
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Southey's spelling has not been regularized.
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The half-bills are arrived – & your letter xxxx serves as a cordial to counteract
the gloomy thoughts & feelings which the newspaper has produced.
It is well that one has something to exhilarate one in private life, – for otherwise there is
very little either at home or abroad, which can be regarded with hope, or with complacency. I am heartily ashamed
of the English people, who have retained nothing of the old English character, except physical courage, &
extreme credulity. – Physical courage I say, because there is very little of the moral virtue
left. We are at this time under the tyranny of the Press, – & the men who have the direction of the
public opinion, & thereby of public affairs, are precisely the greatest rascals in the country, the most
profligate & worst-principled adventurers of the age. Things cannot continue thus. & whatever course they
may take, if you & I should reach the age of threescore years & ten, we shall in all human probability have
outlived the English constitution & the liberties of England. The question is not whether we shall escape from
despotism, but whether the process by which it is to be brought on will be longer or shorter, – more or less
calamitous & frightful. In the present xx condition of the world I am perfectly certain that no
government can withstand the influence of a free press; – the freedom of the press is incompatible with public
security, – & yet we know that the inevitable tendency of despotism is to degrade mankind, & that without
the wholesome influence of the press governments tend to despotism. – But of what use is it to anticipate evils,
against which no exertions can avail, till we have a resolute government.
Gifford has now the whole article upon
Huntington in his hands.xxx next number, for paying my
Christmas Bills. For the number after he xx may have a paper upon some Brazilian travels,xxxx I should rather that Bowles’s
were inserted, but think it not likely. Bowles has been
ill-used in the Q.R. & is now at war with it, having the right on his side.
Sad changes have taken place among our Cats since you were here. I believe you remember Lord
Nelson. He became so wretched that it was an act of mercy to put him in the river, – & that service was
rendered him by poor Mrs Wilson. Bona
Fidelia reached a good old age, & was found dead in the wood-house. There then remained Madame Bianchi, who was
Bona’s daughter, & Pulcheria who was Madames daughter. These poor creatures who lived with Mrs Wilson, & had possession of the chairs & the
fireside in her kitchen forsook the house the day that she had her mortal seizure. They became almost wild, – at
length however we got them to come into the house for food, & I had persuaded them to come to my call before I
left home in the spring. When I returned Madame had disappeared (& has never been seen since) – & Pulcheria
was in a miserable state, – dying of some disease which was then prevalent among the cats & very fatal to them.
It was pitiable to see her, & yet in the hope of her recovery, I could not order an end to be put to her
lingering. But I was glad when she was found dead. – A visitor from the town, by name Virgil, who haunted these
premises, being probably driven from his own, died here also. And thus the old generation to which Bona Marietta,
Sir Thomas Dido, & Madame Catalani had belonged, was extinct. We have now only a young Othello, from Newlands;
he has the defect of being of a miserably small breed, otherwise a worthy & promising cat who has never looked
into a boot; & is safe from all such operators as the Editor of the Q.R.
Have you seen any thing of Strachey? remember me to him when you do.