2579. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 24 March 1815*

24. March 1815.My dear R.

These devils in France seem all to be going one way, & we shall have the whole work to do over again, for there can be no peace on earth till that generation of soldiers is cut off. I suspect that there will not even be found a La Vendée¹ in favour of the Bourbons now, the soldiers will be all against them, the people indifferent, & the wealthy classes there, as they will be every where, willing to submit to the ruling power. [MS torn] then must fairly propose to themselves the conquest of France, by their own military force; – the presence & name of the Bourbons will xxx be useful in reminding the country that they may occupy, & perhaps some of the strong places may be held for them, – but this is very doubtful. – xxx We begin however with better auspices than in 1793. The necessity is apparent, the object definite, the allies are less likely to fall asunder, & the state of our military force is an advantage which counterbalances the weight of our public debt. But I wish M. Wellesley was at the head of affairs, that the immediate effort might not fall short of the emergency.

This comes of magnanimity & liberality. A halter properly applied would have saved all the evil to come! Or even if the wise heads at the Congress² had remembered the old proverb safe bind safe find.

My Brazil,³ I suppose, sticks somewhe between G C Bedford & Streatham. I have been, & still am, working steadily at this Opus. You will find the Chapters de moribus⁴ full of very curious matter.

God bless you RS.