Well, I am rather poor at present; but I have L20 which is not immediately wanted.  Pray, begin a subscription for the Hunts; put down my name for that sum, and, when I hear that you have complied with my request, I will send it you.  Now, if there are any difficulties in the way of this scheme of ours, for the love of liberty and virtue, overcome them.  Oh! that I might wallow for one night in the Bank of England!

Queen Mab is finished and transcribed.  I am now preparing the notes, which shall be long and philosophical.  You will receive it with the other poems.  I think that the whole should form one volume; but of that we can speak hereafter.

As to the French Encyclopedie, it is a book which I am desirous—­very desirous—­of possessing, and if you could get me a few months’ credit (being at present rather low in cash), I should very much desire to have it.

My dear sir, excuse the earnestness of the first part of my letter.  I feel warmly on this subject, and I flatter myself that so long as your own independence and liberty remain uncompromised, you are inclined to second my desires.

PS.  If no other way can be devised for this subscription, will you take the trouble on yourself of writing an appropriate advertisement for the papers, inserting, by way of stimulant, my subscription?

On second thoughts, I enclose the L20.

To MR. OLLIER

An article by Southey

Florence, 15 Oct. 1819.

DEAR SIR,

The droll remarks of the Quarterly, and Hunt’s kind defence, arrived as safe as such poison, and safer than such an antidote, usually do.

I am on the point of sending to you 250 copies of a work which I have printed in Italy; which you will have to pay four or five pounds duty upon, on my account.  Hunt will tell you the kind of thing it is, and in the course of the winter I shall send directions for its publication, until the arrival of which directions, I request that you would have the kindness not to open the box, or, if by necessity it is opened, to abstain from observing yourself or permitting others to observe, what it contains.  I trust this confidently to you, it being of consequence.  Meanwhile, assure yourself that this work has no reference, direct or indirect, to politics, or religion, or personal satire, and that this precaution is merely literary.

The Prometheus, a poem in my best style, whatever that may amount to, will arrive with it, but in MS., which you can print and publish in the season.  It is the most perfect of my productions.