“Among all the ups and downs which you have witnessed
in this country, in the course of five and twenty years, you have never, I
think, seen things more in what lawyers call hotch-potch than they are at
present. Who is right and who wrong I have
| 294 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 52. |
“The prospect is discouraging enough both at home and abroad. I cannot but apprehend that we have got ourselves into a situation in Portugal, from which it will not be easy to withdraw without some loss of reputation. Every one who knows the Portuguese must know that they are neither in a humour or in a state to receive a new constitution; and if Don Miguel likes a journey to Madrid better than a voyage to Brazil, we shall find ourselves fooled by France, laughed at by Spain, and on no desirable terms with Portugal.
“Then at home we have to contend with the effects of the liberal system in trade, with the march of intellect, and the consequences of the manufacturing system. The new Ministry will not sleep upon roses. Canning, I think, will not last long, whether he maintains his ascendancy or not. At the time of Lord Londonderry’s death his friends, I know, thought that his health would not stand the wear and tear of public business, if it should be of a harassing kind; and, therefore, they rather wished he had gone to India at that time.
“I mean to take my family to Harrogate about the
latter end of next month, for three or four weeks. The place is ugly; but there
are interesting objects to be seen, and if my womankind are the better for the
waters and the excursion, I shall be
| Ætat. 52. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 295 |
“God bless you!
