“Our political evils I impute mainly to the progress of every thing in the country, except good morals and sound policy.
| Ætat. 56. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 97 |
“The specific evil which I ascribe to the Catholic Relief Bill is, that it has destroyed the principle of the constitution: the Revolution made it (and at a heavy price) essentially Protestant; it may be anything now. Parties are in consequence broken up, the process of dislocation is going on, every thing is out of joint, and, by-and-by, all will fall to pieces.
“I am not well, but I am able to work, and shall walk, in old English phrase, ‘for dear life;’ though life is not so dear to me, but that I could very willingly lay it down, if its continuance were not more desirable for others than myself. One pleasant thing, however, is, that I yesterday made arrangements for renewing my lease of this house; it expires in November next, six months earlier than I had thought; which is so much the better for me, for getting rid now of the little furniture which belongs to the landlord, I take it from that time at a reduced rent for five years; extensible at my option to five more. This it was prudent to secure, though, in all likelihood, a smaller tenement will suffice for me before that time.
“So I look upon myself as settled for life. Lack of employment I shall have none; for scarcely a week passes without some application to me.
“Sir —— told my brother that I was very fortunate man: I have been, and am so, God be thanked, in almost every sense of the word, except that in which Sir G. is likely to understand it.
“God bless you!
