The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to C. W. W. Wynn, [August?] 1805
“Whenever the encouragement of literature is talked of
again in the House, I should think a motion for letting proof-sheets pass as
franks would not be opposed; they cannot produce 100l. a
year to the post-office, probably not half the sum, but it is a tax of some
weight on the few individuals whom it affects, and a good deal of inconvenience
is occasioned to the printers by waiting for franks, while their presses stand
still. Few persons have greater facility for getting franks than myself, yet
the proofs which come without them, and those which are over-weight from being
damp, or which are misdated, do not cost me less than 30s. a year. The proofs of Madoc cost me 50s.—rather too much out
of five-and-twenty pounds profit.
“I have by me Bishop
Lavington’s Tracts concerning the Moravians; and as I can
in great part vouch for the accuracy of his Catholic references, there seems no
reason to suspect him in the others. At first these Tracts left upon my mind
the same impression which has been made upon yours; nor have I now any doubt
that Zinzendorff was altogether a
designing man, and that the absurdities and obscenities charged upon them in
their outset are in the main true. But it is so in the beginning of all sects,
and it seems to be a regular part of the process of fanaticism. Devotion
borrows its language from ![]()
| 346 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 30. |
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carnal love. This is natural
enough; and the consequences are natural enough also, when one who is more
knave than enthusiast begins to talk out of Solomon’s
Song to a sister in the spirit. But this sort of leaven soon purges
off, the fermentation ceases, and the liquor first becomes fine, then vapid,
and at last you come to the dregs. Moravianism is in its second stage; its few
proselytes fall silently in, led by solitary thought and conviction, not
hurried on by contagious feelings, and the main body of its members have been
born within the pale of the society. They do not live up to the rigour of their
institutions in England; even here, however, it is certain that they are a
respectable and respected people; and as missionaries they are meritorious
beyond all others. No people but the Quakers understand how to communicate
Christianity so well, and the Quakers are only beginning, whereas the Moravians
have for half a century been labouring in the vineyard. Krantz’s History of what they have done
in Greenland is a most valuable book; there is also a History of their American
Missions which I want to get. Among the Hottentots they are doing much good.
The best account of the society, as it exists here, is to be found, I believe,
in a novel called Wanley
Penson. A great deal concerning their early history is to be found
in Wesley’s Journals. He was at
one time closely connected with them, but, as there could not be two popes, a
separation unluckily took place;—I say unluckily, because Methodism is
far the worst system of the two.
“If you have not read Collins’s book on Bantry Bay, I recommend you to get
it before the business ![]()
| Ætat. 30. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 347 |
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comes on in parliament. It is
unique in its kind; the minute history of a colony during the first years of
difficulty and distress. There was one man in power there precisely fit for his
situation—Governor King, and if
it had been possible to induce him to stay there, governor he ought to have
been for life, with discretionary powers. One thing is plain respecting this
colony, and that is, that no more convicts ought to be sent to the
establishments already made. Send them to new settlements, and let the old ones
purify; at present the stock of vice is perpetually renewed. Instead of doing
this, the fresh convicts should be sent at once to new points along the coast;
for new settlements must necessarily consume men, and these are the men who are
fit to be consumed.
“Are you right in thinking that Sallust has the advantage in subject over
Tacitus? To me it appears that the
histories which Sallust relates excite no good feeling,
treating only of bad men in bad times; but that the sufferings of good men in
evil days form the most interesting and improving part of human history. I
prefer Tacitus to all other historians—infinitely
prefer him, because no other historian inculcates so deep and holy a hatred of
tyranny. It is from him that I learnt my admiration of the Stoics. God bless
you!
David Collins (1756-1810)
Military officer who served in New South Wales 1788-96, and after performing legal duties
was commissioned lieutenant-governor in 1803.
David Cranz (1723-1777)
Moravian missionary, author of
Historie yon Griinland und dasiger
Mission der Brudergemeine, 2 vols (1765).
Philip Gidley King (1775-1833)
British naval officer who was the third Governor of New South Wales (1800-06).
George Lavington (1684-1762)
Whig divine educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford, he was bishop of Exeter
(1746) and the author of
The Enthusiasm of Methodists
(1749-51).
Sallust (86 BC-35 BC)
Roman historian; author of
The War against Jugurtha and
The Conspiracy of Cataline.
John Wesley (1703-1791)
English clergyman and author; with George Whitefield he was a founder of
Methodism.
Charles Watkin Williams Wynn (1775-1850)
The son of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, fourth baronet; educated at Westminster and Christ
Church, Oxford, Robert Southey's friend and benefactor was a Whig MP for Old Sarum (1797)
and Montgomeryshire (1799-1850). He was president of the Board of Control (1822-28).
Robert Southey (1774-1843)
Madoc. (London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 1805). A verse romance relating the legendary adventures of a Welsh prince in Wales and
pre-Columbian America.
