“Allow me a place in your columns for my ‘last words’ concerning Wat Tyler.
“In the year 1794, this manuscript was placed by a friend of mine (long since deceased) in Mr. Ridgeway’s hands. Being shortly afterwards in London myself for a few days, I called on Mr. Ridgeway, in Newgate, and he and Mr. Symonds agreed to publish it. I understood that they had changed their intention, because no proof sheet was sent me, and acquiescing readily in their cooler opinion, made no inquiry concerning it. More than two years elapsed before I revisited London; and then, if I had thought of the manuscript, it would have appeared a thing of too little consequence to take the trouble of claiming it for the mere purpose of throwing it behind the fire. That it might be published surreptitiously at any future time, was a wickedness of which I never dreamt.
“To these facts I have made oath. Mr. Winterbottom, a dissenting minister, has
sworn, on the contrary, that Messrs. Ridgeway and Symonds
having declined the publication, it was undertaken by himself and Daniel Isaac Eaton; that I gave them the copy
as their own property, and gave them, moreover, a fraternal embrace, in
gratitude for their gracious acceptance of it; and that he the said
Winterbottom verily believed he had a right now,
| Ætat. 43. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 253 |
“My recollection is perfectly distinct, notwithstanding the lapse of time; and it was likely to be so, as I was never, on any other occasion, within the walls of Newgate. The work had been delivered to Mr. Ridgeway; it was for him that I inquired, and into his apartments I was shown. There I saw Mr. Symonds, and there I saw Mr. Winterbottom also, whom I knew to be a dissenting minister. I never saw Daniel Isaac Eaton in my life; and as for the story of the embrace, every person who knows my disposition and manners, will at once perceive it to be an impudent falsehood. Two other persons came into the room while I was there; the name of the one was Lloyd,—I believe he had been an officer in the army; that of the other was Barrow. I remembered him a bishop’s boy at Westminster. I left the room with an assurance that Messrs. Ridgeway and Symonds were to be the publishers; in what way Winterbottom might be connected with them, I neither knew nor cared, and Eaton I never saw. There is no earthly balance in which oaths can be weighed against each other; but character is something in the scale; and it is perfectly in character that the man who has published Wat Tyler under the present circumstances, should swear—as Mr. Winterbottom has sworn.
“Thus much concerning the facts. As to the work itself,
I am desirous that my feelings should neither be misrepresented nor
misunderstood. It contains the statement of opinions which I have long
| 254 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 43. |
| Ætat. 43. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 255 |
