1187. Robert Southey to Mary Barker, 26 May 1806*

I ought to have written to you long since. But in London I was very unwell at first as well as very busy; & so idle, idle from sheer enjoyment of fresh air & fine weather, – that I am behind hand with every thing.

Thank you for the Musical Letter, it will answer its purpose perfectly well. the book is in the press & I have corrected four proofs of 24 pages each.¹ the Printer is likely to run me hard: for it is yet half to write.² I have sold the first edition for 100£, & to mend the matter spent the money; but it sets me even with the world, & I am going on merrily in the race with the typographical Devils.

Guess my profits upon Madoc after a years sale. £3. 17s. 1d. – if I wanted money no more than I want what the world calls encouragement this would be very well. & thank God it is not very ill as it is, for I have had my pleasure in writing it, & surely I ought not to grumble at receiving three pounds seventeen shillings & one penny, for having written the poem, when there are persons who would pay the same sum gladly to be able to write it. I have got £22 by the Metrical Tales.³ Thalaba continues to sell about one copy a month. But we shall see what prose will do in the way of selling. As for Espriella that I think is sure of a circulating library sale. the Cid I think is likely to be too good a book to succeed⁴ – for goodness Senhora minha⁵ stand in the way of books as well as of men.

Well what have I to say about London? why that George Dyer is in great tribulation lest you & Sir Edward Lyttleton should think he had been disrespectful. that Rickman has got a very goodnatured wife who I am very sorry to say has miscarried since I left the house. – that the River Tuffin enquired for a certain Miss Barker of whom he seemed to have formed a very just idea. that Wordsworth went in powder & with a cocked hat under his arm to the Marchioness of Staffords rout.⁶ that I enjoyed myself among my friends & kept out of the way of my acquaintance. that I did not go either to rout concert theatre or opera, but that I did go to see the Fat Man⁷ & to see nothing else; & that if my books do not sell better I have thoughts of trying what is to be done by seeing company at a shilling a piece as the Thin Man, in humble imitation of him.

If the truth is to be told I suppose that the person whom I saw with most pleasure was Mrs Gonne – tho I never see or think of her without a heart ache. Two children in the same hopeless way as the others! – I past two days there, which is one day more than I allowed to any body else. but it does one good to see one who seems to be perfect goodness, & I believe she is as perfect good as it is possible for human being to be.

I have just been obliged to tell my daughter that you renounced the pomps & vanities of this wicked world for her,⁸ & that Red Shoes were included among them; for having had a new pair on yesterday, she was in tribulation because they were not to be put on today. I wish you could see her – she is hugely advanced in wisdom & in months since you were here. – But are you likely to come? You know it is a vile trick you played us in staying so short a time, & here are a thousand drawings still to be made.

Of my own movements I am still in the dark, which is more Bonaparte’s fault than any body’s else.⁹ If there be no English Diplomacy at Lisbon as I suspect – away go my hopes in that quarter, & in that case I shall take root here & fairly take a lease of this house, if it can be so managed. but if Lisbon be still left open to us, it is not certain whether I shall go in autumn or spring – in autumn an event is likely to take place of much importance here – which is – that my daughter it is to be hoped will then have brother or sister.¹⁰ Now whether I shall set off after the young strangers arrived by myself, or wait till spring when Edith may be able to make the voyage – why that may be decided when the time comes. Heaven knows what may turn up in the meantime, & certainly without thinking about that during the summer I shall have enough to think about; for Senhora there are the Senor’s letters¹¹ to finish & an edition of Palmerin of England¹² to prepare for the press, & a preface for the Specimens to write,¹³ & half a hundred things beside which I would willingly do if I had more eyes, more hands, & another head to ride & tie with my present one.

Fare you well. I came home at one spell in the mail & have not been into Herefordshire after all. I am sorry my own plans for the journey were disconcerted but that cannot be helped. You will be pleased to write me a letter, to tell me you are very well, & in good spirits, – & that Sir E. is coming to see the Lakes without delay. Harry has past his examination & graduates in about a month.¹⁴

God bless you RS.

Keswick. Monday. May 26. 1806.