DISTASTE FOR POLITICS.

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able, to take part in this Review," was his immediate reply; but when it was proposed to him to prepare a paper upon the political aspect of Spain, a subject in which he had long taken a deep interest, and which, of all others, it appeared to his friends he was most capable of writing, he shrank from the proposition, and would have excused himself from taking any share in the politics of the Review.

He had no objection to review books of travels and voyages, biographies, and even histories, for which he felt himself, as he expresses it, entirely competent; but for politics, he despised all parties too much to belong to any. He was for continuing the war against Bona-/ parte as the only security of the kingdom; he knew too well the influence of Catholicism in the south of Europe, and therefore objected to further concessions to it in England; he felt the necessity of reform, and professed himself a warm supporter of the Church of England.

These are the principles upon which his political system was at this time founded. the creed which he thinks it necessary to confess in defence of his independence of opinion, whilst intimating his desire and readiness to enter upon the new Review, of which Gifford was to guide the helm. It was not to be subject to the views of others, or to have his own principles controlled, that he would engage in this new literary labour. He required that what he wrote should be the

expression of his own judgment and convictions upon the subject submitted to his reviewing; and so sensitive was he upon this point, that when it occurred to him, ministerial influence might bear upon the opinions promulgated in the "Quarterly Review," he states at once his decision: "I am very willing to travel with them as far as we are going the same way, and when our roads separate, shall, of course, leave them."

One of the principal causes of grievance that Southey had to complain of during the connexion of Mr. Gifford with this Review, was the license with which his articles were pruned and altered. It is understood that a certain control shall be exercised over a periodical by the person to whom its management is entrusted; and to give consistency and character to the whole, such a power is requisite. But it appears that this prerogative was exercised with considerable absolutism by the Tory editor; and not sentences alone were revised, and weakened by the revision, but, by the omission or transposition of words, Southey was made to express opinions diametrically opposed to his own views. With his first article he leaves this injunction:

*

"Now

I wish you would ask Mr. Gifford, if he thinks it expedient to use the pruning-knife, to let the copy be returned to me when the printer has done with it, because it is ten to one that the passages he would curtail,

*Grosvenor C. Bedford.

AN IMPOTENT APPEAL.

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would be

-being the most Southeyish of the whole those that I should like best myself; and, therefore, I would have the satisfaction of putting them in again for my own satisfaction, if for nobody's else." This appeal, however, was vain. Frequently did he resent the violation, whether intentional or accidental, of many of his favourite passages and most approved opinions. Probably the distance at which he lived from town made his applications and menaces equally disregarded. The injustice of such conduct, and also the remedy, are obvious; and, probably, Southey, to assert his independence, would have quitted the Review, had he not continually anticipated a reformation in the manners of the editor, and had he not been induced to remain upon it by some of his friends, who were closely connected with it, and who represented the injury his withdrawal might cause to the Quarterly and the principles it espoused. It must be admitted, that it would have been better for his reputation had he been less compliant in this particular.

L

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VISIT TO DURHAM.

CHAPTER XIII.

Marriage of his brother Henry-Goes to Durham-His Family -Canning-Stewardship of the Greenwich Hospital-" The Friend"-Ebenezer Elliott-Criticism-"Edinburgh Annual Register"-William Roberts-Opinions-Death of his Uncle Southey-Generosity-Advice to a young Friend entering College Shelley - Assassination of the Hon. Mr. Perceval -Politics.

ETAT. 35-38.

IN the spring of the year 1809 Southey was called to Durham, to be present at the interesting ceremony of his youngest brother's marriage. It cannot be forgotten how deep an anxiety Southey had taken in this child. Although not rich, he had placed him at Norwich to be carefully educated; and when he was of sufficient years, enabled him to study the science of medicine in the University of Edinburgh, where he received his degree. Upon obtaining this qualification, Dr. Henry Southey established himself at Durham, where, enjoying the countenance of several distinguished families, his reputation quickly rose. The quiet and study of Greta Hall had frequently been interrupted by his visits; and it

DR. ZOUCH AND DR. BELL.

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was always observed, that the exercise into which he would draw his brother, whose natural inclination made him of too sedentary habits, was always beneficial to his health, and that Southey was never better than during the sojourn of his brother. It was a pleasant duty Southey was called on to perform, and he undertook the journey with the conviction that the travel would be advantageous, and that no pleasure could exceed that of congratulating another upon a piece of good fortune. The company that he met there consisted of several persons whose tastes and pursuits coincided with his own; amongst whom may be mentioned Dr. Zouch, the author of the life of Sir Philip Sydney; and Dr. Bell, the translator of the Hindoo system of teaching, whose plans of education at one time were received with great favour. With this gentleman Southey became more intimate in after years, aided him in developing his theory, and upon his decease had the melancholy task of giving to the world a narrative of his life.

The family of Southey consisted at this time of one son and three daughters, the youngest an infant. Upon these he bestowed an affection peculiarly tender, and in their pleasures and enjoyments found the purest delight. He joined in their innocent sports, threw aside the conventional restraints of age, and appeared amongst them in the full spirit of boyish hilarity, exciting and receiving amusement. Although the interruptions they caused to his studies were frequent, and no one understood better