796. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 12 June 1803*

Why Grosvenor that is an idle squeamishness of yours, that asking a previous leave to speak. Where my conscience becomes second to your challenge, the final <offence> shall be amended – where we differ mine is the voice potential. But in truth I will tell you that I am out of humour with Kehama¹ for half a hundred reasons. historical composition is a source of greater & quieter & more continuous pleasure & that poem sometimes comes into my head with a – shall I sit down to it, & this is so easily turned out again – that the want of inclination would make me suspect a growing want of power, if some rhymes & poemets did not now & then come out & convince me to the contrary. That second book is good for nothing, it has good parts & pictures – but in tota it is bad; I have some guess how to improve it by managing the weather, & by a piece of natural history which is somewhat of a lie. Abuse away ad libitum.²

Not Nestor Cumberland³ – only as Nestor⁴ was old. if he must have a Greek <name> – there is but one that fits him – Aristophanes⁵ – & that for the worst part of the libellers character. If his plays had any honest principle in them instead of that xxx eternal substitution of honour for honesty – of a shadow for a substance –, if his novels were not more profligate in their tendency than Mathew Lewiss⁶ unhappy book, if the perusal of the Calvary were not a cross heavy enough for any man to bear who has ever read ten lines of Milton – if the man were innocent of all these things by God he ought never to be forgiven for his attempt to blast the character of Socrates.⁷ right or wrong no matter. the name had been canonized. & God knows Wisdom & Virtue have not so many Saints that they can spare one altar to his clumsy pick-axe. I am no blind bigot to the Greeks – but I will take the words of Plato & greater Xenophon⁸ against Richard Cumberland Esqr. – Now do not suppose that I deny him any merit. his observer has some fine stories – very fine ones. but damn his plays – damn his novels damn his calvary – & for that wicked work about Socrates damn him in person.

I do desire the Cabinet⁹ – because I should like all my friends Operas, stupid whelp that I was not to keep the book¹⁰ that contained both our Operas, & which is now opus rascio.¹¹ because nobody else cares for it, or ever has cared – my nose is long & sharp scented – but my eyes not so farsighted opus rascio & therefore what sort of a book this is is all unknown to me. but it must be ‘fico for my friendship’¹² be it what it may.

Of your Mr Glasoe¹³ it is but honest to say that I dislike all I have heard from other quarters of him. but I have no objection to see & to be seen, & am never disposed to return manners for civility. there is no danger that his acquaintance can ever be troublesome to me, & if you take me to him you will see me as courteous as you could wish.

The Grenvilles¹⁴ are in the right, but they got right by sticking in the wrong. they turnd their faces westward in the morning & swore the sun was there, & they have stood still & sworn on till sure enough there the sun is. But they stand upon the strong ground now & have the argument all hollow. Yet what is to come of it & what do they want. The country asks the question War? they have it – & every man in the country says Amen, & they whose politics are the most conservative say Amen most loudly & most sincerely. In spite of their speeches I cannot wish them in, & when change of ministry is talked of cannot but feel with Fox¹⁵ that little as I may like them, ten to one I shall like their successors worse. & sure I am that worse war Ministers than the last cannot curse this country. They were Tyrants – cruel Tyrants & provoked hatred & bitter curses by their cruelty. these men behaved so well upon Despards¹⁶ business & have shown such a respect to the liberties & beliefs of the country that they have fully won my good will. I believe they will smarten up a sad piecemeal patchwork administration. Tierney¹⁷ has a lead – but they talk of Sheridan¹⁸ a rank rascal – & of that Irish Lord Moira¹⁹ – & it does seem that by some fatality the best talents of the Kingdom are for ever to be excluded from the government. Fox has not done well – not what I could have wished – & yet I reverence that man so truly that whenever he appears to me to have erred I more than half suspect my own judgement. –

I am promised access to the Kings Library²⁰ by Heber – & indeed it is a matter of considerable consequence that I should obtain it. morning noon & night I do nothing but read Chronicles & collect from them – & I have travelled at a great rate the <since> the burthen of translating & reviewing has been got rid of. but this will not last long – I must think by & by of some other job work, & turn to labour again that I may earn another holyday.

I call Margaret by way of avoiding all common place phraseology of endearment – a worthy child & a most excellent character. She loves me better than any except her mother – her eyes are as quick as thought – she is all life & spirit & as happy as the day is long – but that little brain of hers is now at rest – & it is vexatious to see how dreams disturb her.

A Dios!²¹ RS.
June 12. 1803.