1302. Robert Southey to John May, 30 March 1807*

My dear friend

I am just now enabled to give you some intelligence concerning my self. In this topsey-turveying of ministers Wynn was very anxious as he says ‘to pick something out of the fire’ for me. The Registership of the Vice Admiralty Court in St Lucie¹ was offered – worth about 600 £ a year – he wrote to me offering this – or as an alternative (the only one in his power) a pension of 200 £, – but before my answer² could arrive it was necessary that he should chuse for me, & he judged rightly in taking the latter. Fees & taxes will reduce this to 160 £ – the precise sum for which I have hitherto been indebted to him – so that I remain with just the same income as before; – the different source from which it is derived is however as you may suppose sufficiently grateful – for tho Wynn could, till now, well afford this, & I had no reluctance in accepting it from one who is the oldest friend I have in the world (for we have xxx been intimate for 19 years) – he has now nearly doubled his expenditure by marrying, & his wifes fortune could have been very little. This I suppose is asked for, & granted to me as a man of letters – in which character I feel myself fully & fairly entitled to receive it, – & you know me too well to suppose that it can make me lose one jot of that freedom both of opinion & of speech, without which I should think myself unworthy – not of this poor xxxx earthly pittance alone – but of Gods air & sunshine, & my inheritance in heaven.

I sent you the Specimens,³ – & shall <have to send you,> owing to some omissions of Bedfords making, a supplementary volume hereafter,⁴ – which will complete its bibliographical value – of its other merits & defects hereafter – It will not be very long before you (I trust) before you will receive Espriella⁵ – the Printer⁶ promises to quicken his pace, – & I hurry him, anticipating that this book will give you & my other friends some amusement & deserve approbation on higher grounds.

Thank you for all your kindness to Harry – I have been daily in hopes of hearing what you thought of him.

This change of ministry – I am as hostile to the measure which was the pretext for it as the King himself, – but having conceded that measure, the Kings conduct is equally exceptionable.⁷ Neither the country nor the Commons called for the change – & they were getting credit & deserving it – by the Army Bill – the blessed Abolishment of the Slave Trade⁸ – the projected reforms – & the projected plan for educating the poor. And now their places are to be filled by a set of men of tried & convicted incapacity, with an old woman at their head!⁹ – But I must refer you to my friend D Manuel Alvarez¹⁰ for the reasons why there is always a lack of talents in the English Government.

God bless you, yrs in haste RS.

Monday March 30. 1807.