763. Robert Southey to Charles Biddlecombe, 6 March 1803*

Sunday evening. March 6. 1803.My dear friend

By some accident, which is a very unusual one with me, your last letter was mislaid, & this vexed me when I wished to answer it. I remember however a very friendly invitation, for which we thank you now, & by of which we hope one day to avail ourselves when Margaret shall be grown big enough to be a play fellow for your little girl.¹ little indeed is an epithet which better suits what I remember her than what she must be now.

When last I wrote we were in treaty for a house in Wales² & I considered that treaty as concluded, for we had agreed upon terms. but an unlucky dispute between the landlord & his tenant about certain premises necessary for my accommodation has deprived me of one of the prettiest places I have seen or expect to see in this Island. never since then I have been on the look out & hitherto without success. we have now a house in view about three miles from Bristol, a spot with some inconveniences, but some advantages also, & great beauty of situation.

Have you received the copy of Chatterton³ for which you subscribed? if neither yours. nor those of your friends whose <names> you were good enough to procure have been sent down, you had better apply for them to your London bookseller when you write him. but with a caution that he apply to the publishers for them as subscribers copies, else the benefit will not be Mrs Newtons.⁴ we expect to clear above £400 for her. I have succeeded better for her than I was ever able to do for myself.

The books &c that you may still be troubled with of mine have the goodness to direct here, & they will then travel with the rest of my lumber in one embarkation to my place of rest – wherever that may be. In about three months time, calculating by my printers speed I also shall have some books to send you – a version of Amadis of Gaul;⁵ a work which being obliged to do something for the lucre of gain, I preferred for its own intrinsic merit. I have work in hand for this Annual Review⁶ which will contain some good articles, & in average merit probably, & in impartiality certainly exceed the monthly ones. Madoc⁷ comes slowly but surely on:. & will I fear – rather than hope – be published at no very distant period. but not while my ways & means can be supplied without it. History⁸ continues my favourite pursuit. I should be very glad of an opportunity to show xx you some specimens, with which I feel confident you would be pleased.

Colonel Despards⁹ business is to me still mysterious. I could have found him guilty of high folly – but not of high treason. it rather seems as if he x had been talking treason than conspiring, prating about what might or could be, not plotting what should be, playing with a halter till he was caught in the noose. I wish he had been spared, because tho his former offerings services were no fair plea for pardon upon such an occasion, his former sufferings were: oppression maketh a wise man mad, & it should have been remembered that Colonel Despard had been the most oppressed man in his Majestys dominions. his pardon would have given administration a character for clemency which is always advantageous. however to their credit they saw none of that wanton cruelty in the whole proceedings which the old ministry eternally exercised. Portland & Grenville & Pitt¹⁰ made imprisonment an engine for personal punishment, in this instance the law was enforced, but with every indulgence to alleviate.

In spite of Sebastianis¹¹ rascally report from Egypt, & Bonapartes¹² threats, & the growling of the Grenvillian¹³ faction, who blessed be God cannot bite now! I expect the continuance of peace. they who are weary must rest – & a sound drubbing will tire any body. – My eyes have been very weak & have cost me almost all the sacrifice of almost all my candle light hours this winter. I am trespassing now & sparing them by this straggling hand – yet still they smart & itch & warn me of my imprudence. Edith & Tom desire to be remembered. remember me also to your mother & Mr Coleman¹⁴ to whom I am very much obliged – Your Curates book¹⁵ is a useful compilation. It wants prints. I read it with pleasure & profit & thought at the time I could have furnished him with some anecdotes which have not fallen in his way.

God bless you – yr affectionate friend Robert Southey.12. St Jamess Place. Kingsdown.