625. Robert Southey to William Taylor, 11 November 1801*

Wednesday night. Nov. 11. 1801.My dear friend

Amid the bustle & everlasting motion in which of late I have been engaged, I have neglected to apprize you of my goings on. partly indeed trusting that Henry would learn every thing worth knowing from his Mother.

Soon after my letter to him I joined my friends in Wales. we made what was designed to be our first journey, which terminated at Llangedwin, Wynns abode. there I found a letter inviting me to Ireland to become Corrys private Secretary for one year. the term prudently limited lest we should not suit each other. the proffered salary 400£ Irish. about 350 English, of which the half was specified as travelling expences. my circumstances neither required nor allowed hesitation. So after touching at Keswick twice, on my road to & from Dublin, here I am in my scribe capacity. My friend Rickmans acquaintance with Corry brought this about. he is Secretary to Abbot.¹ & his residence in Dublin will render my Irish half year very endurable, as he is one of the most men whom I most esteem for his whole moral & intellectual character

I have been a week in town, & in that time have learnt something. the civilities which already have been shown me discover how much I have been abhorred for all that is valuable in my nature. such civilities excite more contempt than anger – but they make me think more despicably of the world than I would wish to do. As if this were a baptism that purified me of all Jacobinical sins – a regeneration – & the one congratulates me, & the other visits me, as if the author of Joan of Arc & of Thalaba² were made a great man by scribing for the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer! –

I suppose my situation by all these symptoms to be a good one. for a more ambitious man doubtless very desirable, tho the ladder is longer than I design to climb. my principles & habits are happily enough settled. My objects in life are leisure to do nothing but write, & competence to write at leisure, & my notions of competence do not exceed 300 a year. – Mr Corry is a man of gentle & reconciling manners. fitter men for his purpose he doubtless might have found in some respects – none more so in regularity & dispatch. the newspapers I hear are at me – I am used to flea bites, & never scratch a pimple to a sore.

Doubtless you have seen the British Critics Review of Thalaba.³ it is so perfect in its kind that I have no doubt in ascribing it to Sir Herbert Croft. the personality in the Monthly Review⁴ I cannot so easily account for: Dr Geddes⁵ has been whispered to me – but I hardly credit the whisper. for never having seen the man I cannot have offended him. – I recollect not whether or no I thanked you for your judgement of Thalaba, & acceded to its censure in great part. as far as I can judge by what reaches my own ears the poem has been succesful to its fair deserts; that is in the character it is gaining – of the sale I yet know nothing.

Burnett is at work for Phillips.⁶ the young warrior fights under a veterans shield, & his bantlings are to be fathered by no less a personage than Dr Mavor⁷ – head-journeyman to Edmund Curl the Second.⁸ For this trade – a miserable trade, George Burnett is noways qualified. he over rates his own powers, & every body else under-rates them. my advice to him has been – turn Usher or tutor. & give your leisure to asserting your literary character. to this he will not stoop – at present he has employment. but he neither calculates rightly on its precariousness nor on his own fitness & ability to discharge it. his knowledge is not at hand <ready> – like the Bank it has cash – but alas! not payable on demand.

I wait my books & papers before I can be comfortably industrious – to correct Madoc – & proceed with the Curse of Kehama⁹ – these are to be my leisure labours – both with the hope of long escaping the Press. for some half dozen reasons, of which the wisest is, that the longer they remain, the higher value they will acquire – not merely from the gradual correction – the ripening of crude fruit – but because my own character as a poet will strengthen, like a retired players. My time is sold at a better price than the booksellers would have given for it.

Do you come to London this winter? If I had the Wishing Cap¹⁰ I would see you at Norwich – a place of which all remembrance is pleasurable. – direct under cover to

Right Honble

Isaac Corry

&c &c &c

Duke Street – Westminster –

<there is much meaning in the and pussey ands.¹¹ – Henry I hope will write – I wish to hear of him & from him.>

farewell. yrs affectionatelyR Southey.