them and their motives, and been saved the expression of many of those unjust imputations which occur in his books and disgrace their pages.

When in London, few

A man who is fond of knowledge must necessarily entertain an affection for his library. Southey's greatest delight, no matter where he might be, was to collect together able works, whether in manuscript or print, and upon them he set a price higher than the mere marketable value of the books. things were a source of greater pleasure to him than a visit to an old bookstall, where, under much dust, and an antiquated "used-up" appearance, he would frequently discover rare and curious authors. This love of books, however, was not in him the desire of having so many volumes or yards of printed and bound paper. He always read the books he purchased, and, generally, where the works were of authority, made a digest of their contents; and so largely had they accumulated, that at his death he possessed, considering the limited means he had to bestow upon them, one of the most extensive and valuable libraries of any private individual in the kingdom.

Dining out one day, a party of eighteen or twenty being present, the name of Suwarrow was proposed as a toast. This created an unpleasant surprise, both to Southey and a friend who sat near him. The conduct of Suwarrow at Warsaw was sufficiently odious to every

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TOAST TO SUWARROW.

liberal mind, and they felt indignant that such a compliment should be suggested at a British table, in honour of one who had seconded and carried out the views of a despicable tyrant. Southey was a stranger, his friend was more familiar at the house. The latter accordingly rose, and stated that there were those present who would regard it as an insult to the feelings of the nation were the toast drunk. Southey seconded the speech, and after a short conversation upon the general and upon Russian politics, the toast was withdrawn.

From Southey's letters we gather a piece of information, which may be considered useless in these precipitate days of steam and electricity, and yet may not be without interest as recording a custom that time and knowledge have abolished. Southey now returned to Bristol, and the time fixed for his starting was a Sunday evening. Having taken his seat upon the mail, he had not proceeded far before the horses gave unpleasant symptoms of restiveness and want of discipline. In fact, the coachman was for some time incapable of governing them, so that had a bridge, or turning, or one of those impediments which chance often throws in the way, been opposed to them, an upset would have been inevitable. When fatigue or his strong arm had brought them to, he offered his apology, by stating that it was customary to make trial of new horses for the

OLD MAIL-COACHES.

87

mails on Sundays, as no bags being sent out on those evenings, no interruption to business would occur whatever accident took place!

Upon his arrival at Westbury, Southey found that he should be obliged to leave Martin Hall. He had resided there only a twelvemonth, yet his reminiscences of it were ever grateful to him. Looking back, long after, when he had experienced the baselessness of many of his fondest day-dreams, and the realisations of few projects, when sorrow and affliction had visited and chastened his spirit, he singled out the year that he had spent in this delightful spot as the happiest of his life.

On leaving Westbury he found a temporary home at the residence of his friend Danvers. On looking around him for a place to settle in, the remembrance of the many pleasant hours he had passed at Burton suggested the propriety of this spot. Accordingly, early in July he went down to a friend's at Christchurch; and after a short delay took a house, which he was not able to occupy until Michaelmas. This interval was spent by himself and Mrs. Southey in making a tour through North Devon, and visiting some of its most remarkable scenery. Ninehead, Lynmouth, the Valley of Rocks, Ilfracombe, and Exeter, mark the route he pursued, and suggest the exquisite variety of landscape he enjoyed.

At Exeter he passed some pleasant days, abusing it as being the filthiest place in England, and eulogising

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VISIT TO DEVONSHIRE.

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it as possessing the best collection of books of any town or city that he knew of out of London. During this tour" Madoc" was progressed with, Thalaba" was nearly completed, and a second volume of the " Annual Anthology" in preparation. He had also resolved upon undertaking the "History of Portugal," a subject the vastness of which he contemplated with increased strength, and which, he trusted, would more than any of his previous works contribute to his permanent reputation.

Early in the October of 1799, Southey was at last settled at Burton, near Christchurch.

NERVOUS SUSCEPTIBILITY.

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CHAPTER VIII.

Indisposition of Southey

Return to Lisbon - Alarm at Sea

Coast of Portugal-Residence at Lisbon-Literary Labours
State of Lisbon The Government

Condition of the People— Crime-Negroes—Charity-Catholicism— Cintra - Journey into the Interior - Preparations for quitting Portugal.

ANNO 1799-1800.

SOUTHEY had not been long at Burton before his old symptoms began to show themselves, and so low was his nervous system reduced, that although he was not troubled with the idea of any serious danger, he was apprehensive lest his illness should settle down into the worst habits of hypochondriacism, and palsy his intellectual powers. He was advised by his physician, Dr. Beddoe, to try a milder air, and return, if possible, to Lisbon. The associations he retained of the country were agreeable. There were, it is true, difficulties of a pecuniary nature in the way; but after a month's delay the journey was rendered practicable, and every preparation immediately pressed forward.

Towards the latter end of April, Southey, accompa