“I have an official from the Treasury this evening, telling me, as you anticipated, that the prayer of my petition* is inadmissible. To be sure, it is much better they should repeal the duty than grant an exemption from it speciali gratiâ; but if they will do neither the one nor the other, it is too bad.
“Is it true that the Princess Charlotte is likely to be married? You will guess why I wish to know; though, if I had not written half a marriage poem, I certainly would not begin one, for, between ourselves, I have not been well used about the Laureateship. They require task verses from me,—not to keep up the custom of having them befiddled, but to keep up the task,—instead of putting an end to this foolery in a fair and open manner, which would do the court credit, and save me a silly expense of time and trouble. I shall complete what I have begun, because it is begun, and to please myself, not to obtain favour with anybody else; but when these things are done, if they continue to look for New Years’ Odes from the Laureate, they shall have nothing else.
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* A petition that some foreign books might come in duty free. |
| Ætat. 42. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 149 |
“Tom has been here for the last fortnight, looking about for a house. I cannot write verses in the presence of any person, except my wife and children. Tom, therefore, without knowing it, has impeded my Pilgrimage; but I can prosify, let who will be present, and Brazil is profiting by this interruption.
“Were you not here when poor Lloyd introduced M. Simond? and have you seen the said M. Simond’s Travels in England, by a native of France? You will like the liveliness and the pervading good sense; and you will smile at the complacency with which he abuses Handel, Raphael, and Milton. He honours me with a couple of pages—an amusing mixture of journalising, personal civility, and critical presumption. My poems and Milton’s, he says, have few readers, although they have many admirers. He applies to me the famous speech of the Cardinal to Ariosto, Dove Diavolo, &c., and thinks I write nonsense. However, it is better than Milton’s, both Milton’s love and theology being coarse and material, whereas I have tenderness and spirituality!!! He sets down two or three things which I told him, states my opinions as he is pleased to suppose, and concludes that the reason why I disapprove of Mr. Malthus’s writings is, that I do not understand them. Bravo, M. Simond! Yet, in the main, it is a fair and able book, and I wonder how so sensible a man can write with such consummate self-assurance upon things above his reach.
“I long to have my Brazilian History finished, that that of
the war may go to press in its stead; and could I abstain from reviewing, three
months
| 150 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 42. |
“God bless you!
