“My last letter told you of Herbert’s danger, and his recovery. You
will be a little shocked at the intelligence in this. We lost Emma yesterday night. Five days ago she was in
finer health than we had ever seen her, and I repeatedly remarked it. For a day
or two she had been ailing; on Saturday night breathed shortly, and was
evidently ill. Edmondson repeatedly saw her, thought her
better at ten o’clock, and assured us he saw no danger. In half an hour
she literally fell asleep without a struggle. Edith is as well as should be expected, and I, perhaps, better.
You know how I take tooth-ache and tooth drawings, and I have almost learnt to
bear moral pain, not, indeed, with the same levity, but with as few outward and
visible signs. In fact, God be thanked for it, there never was a man who had
more entirely set his heart upon things permanent and eternal than I have done;
the transitoriness of everything here is always present to my feeling as well
as my understanding. Were I to speak as sincerely of my family as Wordsworth’s little girl, my story—that I have five
children; three of them at home, and two under
| 234 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 35. |
“Ballantyne has just sent me a present of Campbell’s new poem, and enclosed the last Edinburgh Review in the parcel. They have taken occasion there, under cover of a methodist’s book, to attempt an answer to my Missionary Defence. I hear from all quarters that this article of mine has excited much notice, and produced considerable effect. I had the great advantage of being in earnest, as well as thoroughly understanding the subject. The Edinburgh reviewer knew nothing of Hindoo history except what newspapers and pamphlets had taught him. . . . No wonder, therefore, that I should have the upper hand of such a man in the argument.
“Campbell’s poem has disappointed his friends, Ballantyne tells me. It is, however, better than I expected, except in story, which is meagre. This gentleman, also, who is one of Wordsworth’s abusers, has been nibbling at imitation, and palpably borrowed from the two poems of Ruth and The Brothers. ’Tis amusing envy! to see how the race of borrowers upon all occasions abuse us who do not borrow. The main topic against me is, that I do not imitate Virgil in my story. Pope in my language, &c. &c.
“Scott is still
detained in London, and this will prevent me from going with him to Edinburgh.
Indeed, if engagements had not existed, I could not
| Ætat. 35. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 235 |
“My History gets on; the proof before me reaches to page 336.: I look at it with great pleasure. Whether I may live to complete the series of works which I have projected, and, in good part, executed, God only knows; be that as it may, in what is done I shall, to the best of my power, have on all occasions enforced good opinions upon those subjects which are of most importance to mankind.
“God bless you! It is long since I have heard from
you; what can you be cruising after? Things
| 236 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 35. |
