1288. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 15 March 1807*

Dear Grosvenor

You will do as you think best about Errata¹ – I had given up the thoughts of any in utter despair, for to enumerate all would I believe fill a whole sheet & to give only a short list when they are so out of all numeration would be impudent. Not to mention that in most instances the emendation can only be conjectural, & in many the blunder is so great that it leaves no ground even for a guess. here follow some which are in the prose-work –

& in the account of Glover² bad language should have been bald language – see how these printers contrive to murder ones meaning!

I gave no directions about sending you a copy – because I conceive you entitled to as many as you please – & to half the profits of the book, be that what it may – (i-e- half the Editors profits, who also <& therefore> one fourth of the whole) be it xxx between three & four pound like the remuneration of Madoc – or between one & two thousand like the guerdon of Walter Scotts Lay³ – ‘Oh sweet guerdon – better than Remuneration’⁴

I do not think it was necessary to cancel the 2d sheet of the Preface – but am not sorry it is done. About Amhurst you have seen my opinion⁵ – I wish it had not been there – tho its <it> is certainly offensive only in its subject, it may stand. But Ld Chesterfields wit, & the grossness of Gildon & Hinchcliffe must out.⁶ I would rather see my name nailed upon the gallows, than prefixed to a book containing them. And that doleful blunder about Wartons Sonnet⁷ will cost two leaves – that was a dismal oversight indeed. – Have you look Your second Catalogue is as defective as the rest of the book – not half – not a tithe of the Academical titles are specified. But if I were to find out all the abominations of the books I should make you waste like a Newmarket jockey in training

You tell me nothing about Horace. I was very serious in the advice I gave you about him, whatever you may have thought, – & am fully persuaded that there is nothing else to be done.⁸ – It would rejoice me to hear you had found a house – once settled & you will find that you have lost little. Shall I give you an example of true philosophy? – My daughter has this day lost her two cousins⁹ – After staring a little when they were gone, & she understood they were not to come back – I can xxxxxx xxxxx play by myself – said she. Presently she began to rejoice at the thoughts that Daniel would come in the evening – (a playmate of Derwents) – but hearing also that he would not come – she answered after another pause – I can do without him.

Well said my true daughter! God bless you RS.

Sunday March 15. 1807.