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National Library of Wales, MS 4811D. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 313-315.Dating note: The endorsement indicates that the letter was received by Wynn on 7 June; the letter’s contents indicate it was written before that sent to Wynn of [5 June 1803].
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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The Taxerss. per bushel increase in the malt tax and a 15% duty on poorer quality tea (better
quality tea was taxed at 45%).trimmers, & for the most part well laid on but malt should have been spared – & the advance on low-priced teas will be very unpopular – for tea is in fact the
main comfort & single luxury of the poor. a pernicious one I believe – but still the beast should be humoured as much as possible
when so heavy a load is to be laid on him. A tax might well be laid upon all finer articles of dress, such as are peculiar to the
better class. sixpence per yard upon superfine cloths or in that proportion – fine muslins, fine linens – fine printed cottons. a light
tax would not injure the manufacture, & would be exceedingly productive – for these latter articles
are 20 or 30 per cent cheaper than they were 20 years ago. A stamp duty of one penny in the shilling upon all new books – except bibles
&c & school books. to last only during the war. this would be very productive. the single Cyclopædia
I did not expect ever to feel any uncomfortable interest in public affairs again but the conduct of France quite vexes
& irritates me & I could shake hands with Mr Wyndham.
If they take Hamburgh, the money of the Hamburghers should come here – not go to Paris. batter it about the ears of the
French army. if Spain go to war (which if possible should be avoided, for Spain is not hostile in its feelings towards England & is
a more formidable enemy than people are aware of – her gun boats in spite of Gibralter actually commanding the Straights against all
merchant vessels) – if Spain be forced into the war any body except Sir James Pulteney
I know not what to wish about ministers. these men lack talents & yet I cannot help liking them by comparison. they
have brought back the old temper of Englishmen. there was a cruelty in the old administration – which seems to have proceeded more from
the Duke of Portland
Your brother
I am disappointed that you do not like Urraca
Should Portugal be in earnest in resisting France & Spain with the help of England it can as well do it now as it has <done> heretofore. the march from France to Portugal is very long & thro a country alway scantily stocked. 600 miles is a heavy distance under such inconveniences.
Lisbon is supplied with corn by sea for 33 weeks in the year. this is accurate information, & this is the main defence of the city against the French, for the mouth of the Tagus is easily commanded, & so the city is starved.