“I heard accidentally at Brussels that I had been returned for the borough of Downton, and on my arrival here, on Wednesday last, I found a letter, announcing, in the most gratifying and honourable manner, that this distinction had been conferred upon me, through the influence of the writer, whose name had not been affixed; had that however been doubtful, the writing was recognised by my old and intimate friend Mr. John May.
“Our first impulses in matters which involve any
question of moral importance, are, I believe, usually right. Three days allowed
for mature consideration, have confirmed me in mine. A seat in Parliament is
neither consistent with my circumstances, inclinations, habits, or pursuits in
life. The return is null, because I hold a pension of 200l. a-year during pleasure. And if there were not this obstacle, there
would be the want of a qualification. That pension is my only certain income;
and the words of the oath (which I have looked at) are too unequivocal
| Ætat. 52. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 263 |
“For these reasons, which are and must be conclusive, the course is plain. When Parliament meets a new writ must be moved for, the election as relating to myself being null. I must otherwise have applied for the Chiltern Hundreds.
“It is, however, no inconsiderable honour to have been so distinguished. This I shall always feel; and if I do not express immediately to your friend my sense of the obligation he has conferred upon me, it is not from any want of thankfulness, but from a doubt how far it might be proper to reply to an unsigned communication. May I therefore request that you will express this thankfulness for me, and say at the same time, that I trust, in my own station, and in the quiet pursuance of my own scheme of life, by God’s blessing, to render better service to those institutions, the welfare of which I have at my heart, than it would be possible for me to do in a public assembly.
