Yours very truly and thankfully,

CAR.  SOUTHEY.

May 23, 1840.

DEAR SIR,

Very cordially I return your friendly salutations, feeling, as I do, that every manifestation of kindness for my husband’s sake is more precious to me than any I could receive for my own exclusively.  Two-and-twenty years ago, when he wished to put into your hands, as publisher, a first attempt of mine, of which he thought better than it deserved, he little thought in that so doing he was endeavouring to forward the interests of his future wife; of her for whom it was appointed (a sad but honoured lot) to be the companion of his later days, over which it has pleased God to cast the “shadow before” of that “night in which no man can work.”  But twelve short months ago he was cheerfully anticipating (in the bright buoyancy of his happy nature) a far other companionship for the short remainder of our earthly sojourn; never forgetting, however, that ours must be short at the longest, and that “in the midst of life we are in death.”  He desires me to thank you for your kind expressions towards him, and to be most kindly remembered to you.  Your intimation of the favourable progress of his 8vo “Book of the Church” gave him pleasure, and he thanks you for so promptly attending to his wishes about a neatly bound set of his “Peninsular War.”  Accept my assurances of regard, and believe me to be, dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

CAROLINE SOUTHEY.

On September 17, 1840, Mr. Murray sent to Mr. Southey a draft for L259, being the balance for his “Book of the Church,” and informed him that he would be pleased to know that another edition was called for.  Mrs. Southey replied: 

Mrs. Southey to John Murray.

“He made no remark on your request to be favoured with any suggestions he might have to offer. My sad persuasion is that Robert Southey’s works have received their last revision and correction from his mind and pen.”

GRETA HALL, October 5, 1840.

DEAR SIR,

I will not let another post go out, without conveying to you my thanks for your very kind letter last night received.  It will gratify you to know that its contents (the copy of the critique included), aroused and fixed Mr. Southey’s attention more than anything that has occurred for months past—­gratifying him, I believe, far more than anything more immediately concerning himself could have done.  “Tell Murray,” he said, “I am very much obliged to him.”  It is long since he has sent a message to friend or relation.

Now let me say for myself that I am very thankful to you—­very thankful to my indulgent reviewer—­and that if I could yet feel interest about anything of my own writing, I should be pleased and encouraged by his encomium—­as well as grateful for it.  But if it did not sound thanklessly, I should say, “too late—­too late—­it comes too late!” and that bitter feeling came upon me so suddenly, as my eyes fell upon the passage in question, that they overflowed with tears before it was finished.