2nd §, No 26., June 28. *56.] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
505 
LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1856. 
Potes, 
INEDITED LETTER OF SOUTHEY. 
[The following letters, for the use of which we are in- 
debted to the courtesy of Mr. Ditton Croker, contain 
what the elder D’Israeli would have called “the secret his- 
tory” of an article in the Quarterly Review. Barré Charles 
Roberts, the amiable and clever youth to whom they allude, 
died at the age of twenty-one in 1810. Mr. Grosvenor 
Bedford, his cousin, published his Letters and Papers, with 
a Memoir, in 1814; and, according to the fashion of that 
lordly period, enshrined them in a handsome 4to. volume. 
The review alluded to at the conclusion of the second 
letter was published in the Quarterly Review for Jan. 
1815 (vol. xii. p. 509.). Written in the tone of exagge- 
ration which pervades these letters, there is one passage 
in it which is worthy of quotation for the almost prophe- 
tic character of its close. Southey is describing the too 
frequent course of men of genius—“the melancholy 
sum of what the biography of men of letters almost uni- 
formly presents.” It is thus that he sums up the melan- 
choly tale: “A morning of ardour and of hope; a day of 
clouds and storms; an evening of gloom closed in by 
premature darkness.” Should he not have looked be- 
yond the graye, to that “recompense of reward” which, 
even in this world, awaits the memory of those who de- 
- vote their powers to high and noble ends? ] 
“ Keswick, 16. Dec. 1814. 
“You will not I trust, Sir, think me obtrusive, 
if I return thanks to you as well as to Grosvenor, 
for the volume with which he has favoured me. 
I have read it with great interest and great admira- 
tion; could the cause of its publication have been 
forgotten, I might have added with unmingled 
pleasure. 
“We know too many instances of promising 
talents cut off in the bud, but I remember no in- 
stance in any way resembling this. The good 
sense, the careful research, the playful temper, 
which the letters display, are truly delightful ; 
and the picture of filial and fatherly affection 
might be held up as the ideal of all that can be 
desired between parent and child. 
“ Books are more durable than marbles; and 
while this volume exists, Barré will be known and 
admired. That he would have attained a dis- 
tinguished reputation if a longer life had been 
granted him, [ cannot doubt. Perhaps under any 
other circumstances he would not have been so 
entirely laid open to the world; and if he had not 
been made known so well, however distinguished 
his attainments, he would never have been ad- 
mired or lamented so much. 
“You, Sir, have the consolation of reflecting 
that everything which the wisest and fondest 
ae would do for the welfare and happiness of 
is child was done, and of knowing that what 
death has taken away, death will restore. One 
who has felt this latter consolation, may be al- 
lowed to touch upon it. 
“ Believe me, Sir, 
“* With the most sincere respect, 
* Your obliged humble servant, 
** RoBerT SouTHeY.” 
“ Kaling, 20th December, 1814, 
“ Dear Sir, 
“J should ill requite the favour you have con- 
ferred on me, or deserye the good opinion which 
our own worthiness has led yousto entertain on 
my behalf, if I did not gratefully acknowledge the 
value I set on both. 
“As soon as Grosvenor’s Memoir of dear Barré 
was issued from the press, I was very desirous 
that a copy should be sent to you forthwith. 
This wish sprang out of the respect which I bear 
you, and which you are so eminently entitled to 
receive from every one: it was restrained, so far as 
regards the not having presented the work from 
myself, from an apprehension, alone, that I might 
seem to be taking a presumptuous liberty. If I 
erred, I did so from delicacy. 
“The kindness, may I say the friendly sentiment, 
your letter displays in regard to my lamented son 
and myself, are deeply impressed on my mind; 
but your admiration of dear Barré, your applause 
of his affectionate disposition and nature, of his 
persevering industry and his various acquire- 
ments, excites a tumultuous conflict of joy and 
grief in me; not to be controuled by any power 
which I possess, nor described by any language 
which I can command. Instruct me, dear Sir, 
if the rich stores of your own vast mind contain 
the means how I shall convert these hours of 
grief into consolatory reflections. 
“T trust, with the lowest humility, and I hope 
with pious resignation, that the Almighty who 
blessed me with such a son and friend, and who 
endowed me with the best and warmest affections 
of our nature for his merits, will not be displeased 
with me, or will pardon my infirmity, that I can- 
not cease whilst I have life, however unavailing 
my sorrow, to repine at the loss of him. It has 
been hinted, that a great obligation is yet in store 
fog me; that the most masterly pen amongst 
living authors is about to exercise its mighty 
powers in a review and delineation of the unpub- 
lished memoir and works of Dear Barré. How 
shall I sustain this large addition to the debt 
which Gros’ Bedford, from zeal and affection, 
already has heaped upon me. 
“ Believe me to be, dear Sir, with the highest 
respect and esteem, your obedient and most faith- 
ful servant, 
“ Ep. Roperts, 
“ Robert Southey, Esq.” 
