The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to Walter Scott, 5 November 1813
“If you have not guessed at the reason why your letter
has lain ten weeks unanswered, you must have thought me a very thankless and
graceless fellow, and very undeserving of such a letter. I waited from day to
day that I might tell you all was completed, and my patience was nearly
exhausted in the process. Let me tell you the whole history in due order,
before I express my feelings towards you upon the occasion. Upon receiving
yours I wrote to Croker, saying that the
time was passed when I could write verses upon demand, but that if it were
understood that, instead of the old formalities, I might be at liberty to write
upon great public events or to be silent, as the spirit moved,—in that
case the office would become a mark of honourable distinction, and I should be
proud of accepting it. How this was to be managed he best knew; for, of course,
it was not for me to propose terms to the Prince. When next I saw him he told me that, after the
appointment was completed, he or some other person in the Prince’s
confidence, would suggest to him the fitness of making this reform, in an
office which requires some reform to rescue it from the contempt into which it
had fallen. I thought all was settled, and expected every day to receive some
official communication, but week after week past on. My headquarters at this
time were at Streatham.* Going one
* His uncle, Mr. Hill, was then rector of that parish. |
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| Ætat. 39. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 47 |
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day into town to my brothers, I found that Lord William Gordon, with whom I had left a
card on my first arrival, had called three times on me in as many days, and had
that morning requested that I would call on him at eleven, twelve, one, or two
o’clock. I went accordingly, never dreaming of what this business could
be, and wondering at it. He told me that the Marquis
of Hertford was his brother-in-law, and had written to him, as
being my neighbour in the country,—placing, in fact, the appointment at
his (Lord William’s) disposal, wherefore he wished
to see me to know if I wished to have it. The meaning of all this was easily
seen; I was very willing to thank one person more, and especially a
good-natured man, to whom I am indebted for many neighbourly civilities. He
assured me that I should now soon hear from the Chamberlain’s office, and
I departed accordingly, in full expectation that two or three days more would
settle the affair. But neither days nor weeks brought any further intelligence;
and if plenty of employments and avocations had not filled up my mind as well
as my time, I should perhaps have taken dudgeon, and returned to my family and
pursuits, from which I had so long been absent.
“At length, after sundry ineffectual attempts, owing
sometimes to his absence, and once or twice to public business, I saw Croker once more, and he discovered for me
that the delay originated in a desire of Lord
Hertford’s that Lord
Liverpool should write to him, and ask the office for me. This
calling in the Prime Minister about the disposal of an office, ![]()
| 48 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 39. |
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the net emoluments of which are about 90l. a-year, reminded me of the old proverb about shearing pigs.
Lord Liverpool, however, was informed of this by
Croker; the letter was written, and in the course of
another week Lord Hertford wrote to
Croker that he would give orders for making out the
appointment. A letter soon followed to say that the order was given, and that I
might be sworn in whenever I pleased. My pleasure, however, was the last thing
to be consulted. After due inquiry on my part, and some additional delays, I
received a note to say that if I would attend at the Chamberlain’s office
at one o’clock on Thursday, November 4., a gentleman-usher would be there
to administer the oath. Now it so happened that I was engaged to go to Woburn
on the Tuesday, meaning to return on Thursday to dinner, or remain a day
longer, as I might feel disposed. Down I went to the office, and solicited a
change in the day; but this was in vain, the gentleman-usher had been spoken
to, and a Poet-Laureate is a creature of a lower description. I obtained,
however, two hours’ grace; and yesterday, by rising by candlelight and
hurrying the postboys, reached the office to the minute. I swore to be a
faithful servant to the King, to reveal all treasons which might come to my
knowledge, to discharge the duties of my office, and to obey the Lord
Chamberlain in all matters of the King’s service, and in his stead the
Vice-Chamberlain. Having taken this upon my soul, I was thereby inducted into
all the rights, privileges, and benefits which Henry
James Pye, Esq., did enjoy, or ought to have enjoyed.
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| Ætat. 39. |
OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. |
49 |
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“The original salary of the office was 100 marks. It
was raised for Ben Jonson to 100l. and a tierce of Spanish canary wine, now wickedly
commuted for 26l.; which said sum, unlike the canary, is
subject to income-tax, land-tax, and heaven knows what taxes besides. The whole
net income is little more or less than 90l. It comes to
me as a Godsend, and I have vested it in a life-policy: by making it up 102l. it covers an insurance for 3000l. upon my own life. I have never felt any painful anxiety as to
providing for my family,—my mind is too buoyant, my animal spirits too good,
for this care ever to have affected my happiness; and I may add that a not
unbecoming trust in Providence has ever supported my confidence in myself. But
it is with the deepest feeling of thanksgiving that I have secured this legacy
for my wife and children, and it is to you that I am primarily and chiefly
indebted.
“To the manner of your letter I am quite unable to
reply. We shall both be remembered hereafter, and ill betide him who shall
institute a comparison between us. There has been no race; we have both got to
the top of the hill by different paths, and meet there not as rivals but as
friends, each rejoicing in the success of the other.
“I wait for the levee, and hope to find a place in the
mail for Penrith on the evening after it, for I have the Swiss malady, and am
home-sick. Remember me to Mrs. Scott and
your daughter; and believe me, my dear Scott,
Most truly and affectionately yours,
Robert Southey.”
John Wilson Croker (1780-1857)
Secretary of the Admiralty (1810) and writer for the
Quarterly
Review; he edited an elaborate edition of Boswell's
Life of
Johnson (1831).
Lord William Gordon (1761-1823)
The second son of the third duke of Gordon; educated at Harrow, he was MP for Elginshire,
Invernessshire, and Horsham, and held the office of deputy-ranger of St. James's
Park.
Herbert Hill (1750-1828)
Educated at St. Mary Hall, and Christ Church, Oxford; he was Chancellor of the Choir of
Hereford Cathedral, chaplain to the English factory at Lisbon (1792-1807) and rector of
Streatham (1810-28). He was Robert Southey's uncle.
Ben Jonson (1572-1637)
English dramatist, critic, and epigrammatist, friend of William Shakespeare and John
Donne.
Henry James Pye (1745-1813)
Succeeded William Whitehead as Poet Laureate in 1790; Pye first attracted attention with
Elegies on Different Occasions (1768); author of
The Progress of Refinement: a Poem (1783).
