The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to James White, 11 November 1814
“I am grieved to learn from Neville that you are distressing yourself
about what I could find in my heart to call these cursed examinations.* There
are few things of which I am more thoroughly convinced, than that the system of
feeding-up young men like so many game cocks for a sort of intellectual long-main is every way pernicious.
“University honours are like provincial tokens, not
current beyond the narrow limits of the district in which they are coined; and
even where they pass current they are not the only currency, nor the best.
Doubtless there are many men at Cambridge in high repute, who have taken no
honours and gained no prizes: and should you yourself stand for a fellowship or
take pupils, you will find the opinion of what you might have
done, will act as well in your favour as if your acquirements had
received the seal and stamp of approbation in the Senate House. Content
yourself with graduating among the many; and remember that the first duty which
you have to perform is that of keeping yourself, as far as it can depend upon
yourself, in sound health of body and mind, both for your own sake and for the
sake of those who are most dear to you. If I were near you I would rid you of
these blue devils. When I
* This is strong language; but it might well be used
to the brother of poor Kirke
White: who, urged by exhortations, and kept up by
stimulants, won in the race, and—died. |
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| 86 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 40. |
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was about eighteen I made Epictetus literally my manual for some twelvemonths, and by
that wholesome course of stoicism counteracted the mischief which I might else
have incurred from a passionate admiration of Werter and Rousseau. His tonics agreed with me; and if the old Grecian
could know how impassible I have ever since felt myself to the τά ύχ έϕ΄ ήμιν,
he would be well satisfied with the effect of his lessons. It is not your fault
that these university distinctions have a local and temporary value, but it is
your fault if you do not consider how local and how temporary that value is;
and if you suffer yourself to be agitated by any losses and fears concerning
what is worth so little. My dear James,
in this matter, follow, in the strict interpretation of the words, the advice
of Boethius,— ‘Pelle timorem,
Speraque fugato.’ |
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“Remember that you only want your degree as a
passport: content yourself with simply taking it; and if you are disposed to
revenge yourself after wards by burning your mathematical books and
instruments, bring them with you to Keswick when next you make us a visit, and
I will assist at the auto-da-fè. We will dine by the side of
the Lake, and light our fire with Euclid.
“Neville was
more fortunate than you in his excursion to this land of loveliness. He had
delightful weather, and he made the most of it. Never had we a more
indefatigable guest, nor one who enjoyed the country more heartily. Since his
return, Neville-![]()
| Ætat. 40. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 87 |
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like, he has loaded us
with presents; and no children were ever happier than these young ones were
when the expected box made its appearance. I happened to be passing the evening
at the Island with General Peachey when
it arrived, and they one and all laid their injunctions upon their mother not
to tell me what each had received, that they might surprise me with the sight
in the morning. Accordingly, no sooner was my door opened in the morning than
the whole swarm were in an uproar, buzzing about me. In an evil moment I had
begun to shave myself; before the operation was half over, Edith with her work-box was on one side,
Herbert with his books on the
other,—Bertha was displaying
one treasure, Kate another, and little
Isabel, jigging for delight in the
midst of them, was crying out mine—mine—Mitter
White—and holding up a box of Tunbridge ware. My
poor chin suffered for all this, and the scene would have made no bad subject
for Wilkie or Bird. God bless you!
Your affectionate friend,
Robert Southey.”
Edward Bird (1772-1819)
Bristol history painter; he illustrated
The Journal of Llewellin
Penrose (1815) published by Murray.
Boethius (480 c.-524)
Philosopher and Christian theologian, author of
The Consolations of
Philosophy.
Epictetus (55-135)
Roman Stoic philosopher whose teachings were summarized by Arrian in the
Encheiridion.
Euclid (300 BC fl.)
Greek mathematician who lived in Alexandria; his
Elements forms
the basis of geometry.
William Peachey (1763 c.-1838)
Of Gosport, educated at Trinity College, Oxford; he was lieutenant-general in the 10th
Hussars and was a Tory MP for Yarmouth (1797-1802) and Taunton (1826-30). He corresponded
with W. L. Bowles and Robert Southey.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Swiss-born man of letters; author of, among others,
Julie ou la
Nouvelle Heloïse (1761),
Émile (1762) and
Les Confessions (1782).
Katherine Southey (1810-1864)
The daughter of Robert and Edith Southey; she died unmarried at Lairthwaite Cottage in
Cumberland.
Henry Kirke White (1785-1806)
Originally a stocking-weaver; trained for the law at Cambridge where he was a
contemporary of Byron; after his early death his poetical
Remains
were edited by Robert Southey (2 vols, 1807) with a biography that made the poet
famous.
James White (1793 c.-1885)
The younger brother of Henry Kirke White; educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, he was
curate of St George's Manchester (1826-42), rector of Stalham, Norfolk (1846-52) and Sloley
Norfolk (1852-85).
John Neville White (1785 c.-1845)
The elder brother of Henry Kirke White; after working in medicine he was educated at
Peterhouse College, Cambridge, and was rector of Rushall (1828) and Tivetshall in Norfolk
(1832-45). The rumor that he died a suicide was denied in the
Gentleman's
Magazine.
Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841)
Scottish-born artist whose genre-paintings were much admired; he was elected to the Royal
Academy in 1811.
