2133. Robert Southey to John Murray, 5 August 1812*

Keswick. August 5. 1812.My dear Sir

The thought of such a dedication¹ as you hint at had past across my mind, – arising equally from a feeling of respect toward C – as the author of Talavera,² & from a sense of some very essential kindness shown me in the person of my brother when I was last in town.³ Things of this kind I am apt to think of, with some degree of eagerness at first, – then to hesitate about, & usually to omit them – rather from the want of any person upon the spot who should say to me ‘do this’ – than from any better reason. This therefore shall be done. – There is a quotation from Ulm & Trafalgar placed at the end of the sketch in the Review by Mr Gifford,⁴ – not by me, – for to confess the truth I never saw the poem. If you think it contains a more appropriate one, send it me that I may have the pleasure of selecting for myself, – otherwise this may stand. – I have been looking over the Songs of Trafalgar⁵ since your letter arrived. – It will be very easy to add the contents of each chapter in each <the> proof. –

I could wish to give plans of the three battles⁶ if there did not seem to be two objections, – first the difficulty of making them distinct upon so small a scale, & secondly because the readiest way would be <to> copy those in these xxxx huge twenty-pounder volumes before me, a thing not to be done without leave, & the leave is not to be asked, after the manner in which I was compelled to speak of the execution of that work.⁷ By the time I am as competent a judge of that work as any person is likely to be, & the more I farther I proceed with it, the more feelingly do I perceive the value of the materials, & the incapacity of the compilers to whom they were entrusted. – However there must be other plans in existence which there need be no delicacy about appropriating to our use, – & if they can be so compressed as reduced as to remain distinct within the compass of a page they would materially elucidate the description. Perhaps this might be contrived by giving the whole page to the plan, & placing the references on another leaf. – Having got thro the Battle of the Nile to day I have felt the xxx <importance> of such auxiliaries.

But my principal reason for replying thus immediately to your letter is to say that for the two articles proposed for your next number,⁸ there are two books which ought to be before me, & which may conveniently come with the number now about to be launched. Balfours Battle of Roncesvalles,⁹ – a worthless poem I dare be sworn, – but it is upon our text & ought to be alluded to, – & an Account of the Public Charities,¹⁰ there is such a book tho I do not know its title.

I will take care of the Nicobar Islands¹¹ – Books of Travels I am always glad to review.

Believe me my dear Sir Yrs very truly Robert Southey.