VOL. 2.] Robert Southey, Esq. 191 one of these young ladies Mr. Southey sible,) might postpone or prevent. He had, we believe, previously formed an therefore determined, contrary to the attachment, and as it was necessary, in advice of his friends, we believe, imorder to render the colony more extensive mediately to marry the lady he had choand flourishing, and as young poets lose sen, and on the very day of the solemhalf their inspiration in the absence of nization he left Bristol to accompany his females, it was, after some previous ne- uncle to Spain. To no part of his gociations, agreed that Mr. Coleridge family was this connection more disand Mr. Lovell should marry the other pleasing than to Miss Tyler, whose obtwo sisters, and that Mrs. Fricker and jections were continued for a considerable her youngest daughter should accompany time after the event. the expedition. Of course the whole When Mr. Southey left England, the scheme, but particularly the marriage of period fixed for his return was the end her nephew into a family whose wealth of six months, and almost to a day he was by no means a recommendation, kept the appointment he had made. Mrs. met with the strong disapprobation of Miss Southey, in the mean time, boarded at Tyler, who used her utmost exertions to the house of a friend in Bristol. After prevent its execution, We know not his arrival in his native country, Mr. exactly to what cause the defeat of this Southey for some years remained in his visionary plan is to be attributed: native city and its vicinity in the enjoywhether to the representations of Miss ment of the tranquil pleasures of a doTyler, the entreaties of Mr. Southey's mestic circle, enlivened by the company mother, or the unwillingness of Mrs. of the choicest friends that society alFricker, whether to the changes in the fords. He pursued his literary labours, political world, or whether to the arrival or rather his literary pleasures, with of the Rev. Mr. Hill, (Mr. Southey's great zeal and industry, and laid the founmaternal uncle, whose name we have dation of several of the works he has before mentioned) from Portugal, at since published. We did not interrupt that juncture. Mr. Hill was in posses- our notice to observe, that in 1795 he sion of a living at Hereford, which oblig- produced a volume of poems in conjunced him to return to England annually, tion with Robert Lovell, under the and one of these visits occurred just at classic names of Moschus and Bion: the time the young adventurers were titles perhaps not well chosen, when we contemplating their speedy embarkation consider the nature of most of the pieces, for their trans-Atlantic expedition. although it must be admitted that of all the writers among— year On his return to Lisbon in 1795, (the colonizing scheme having been unwilling"The learned Greeks rich in fit epithets, ly relinquished by all the parties, but Blest in the lovely marriage of pure words," particularly by Mr. Southey) Mr. Hill proposed to take his nephew with him, there are none that seem to approach so and with great persuasion, the young nearly to the modern style of thought man's consent was at last obtained. and expression. Southey at this time The marriage of Mr. Southey and had not attained his twentieth year, and was younger. The Miss Fricker, which had been contracted Lovell followunder the notion of a settlement in North ing that of his marriage, 1796, appeared America, had not at this time (1795) his Joan of Arc, which is stated to have been solemnized, but on Mr. Hill un- been written in the short space of six dertaking to conduct his nephew to weeks. Portugal, it was concluded that the nuptials should not be celebrated until after bis return. The attachment of Mr Southey, however, was too strong to allow him to rest his happiness upon the unsure footing of a distant union, that a thousand accidents (of nine hundred and ninety-nine of which lovers alone are sen The gratification and improvement experienced by Mr. Southey in his first visit to the Peninsula, induced him after remaining in England about six years, to. project a return thither in company with his wife, which he accomplished in the beginning of the year 1800, and for sixteen months he was employed in travel 192 Portugal. Robert Southey, Esq. upon the manners of the people, upon the government of the country, and the results of his tasteful and laborious literary investigations were given to the public on his return to his native land, in the letters which he wrote to England during his absence. They are too well known to need any comment; that work and Lord Holland's life of Lope de Vega contain a great mass of information respecting the literature of the Peninsula, until then little attended to in this country. In Germany the critics had formed a much higher estimate of its value. He also about this time published, in conjunction with Mr. C. Lamb, Sir H. Davy, and others, two volumes of poems called the Annual Anthology. [VOL. 2. ling through various parts of Spain and they were married, lives under the roof The observations he made of her brother-in-law, and educates his daughters, of whom there are four. Mr. S. has also one son of about the age of 8 years, whom he takes great pleasure in educating himself. Mr. Southey is a man of a most happy and domestic temper, delighting in the society of his children even in his most laborious hours; and from habit he has obtained such a power of abstraction as to be able to pursue his studies in their company. In the month of September 1813, Mr. Southey accepted the office of poetlaureate on the death of the late occupant, Mr. Pye. As to the question of political consistency, surely the moment when all hearts are animated by but one sentiment of exultation at the recent glorious events, which have destroyed what Towards the close of the year 1801, all admit to have been an odious tyranny, Mr. Southey obtained the appointment is not a time to revive political animoof Secretary to Mr. Corry, at that time sities; and surely when we have just witChancellor of the Exchequer for Ireland, nessed the bloody progress and happy and continued to hold the place until bis denouement of the French revolutionary principal quitted the office, when we tragedy, it is not a time to censure those believe that Mr. Southey's talents and who have repented of the errors of youth-services received a reward which they ful ardour. To such as maintain that eminently merited. Before, however, the laureate is a person who must neceshe entered upon the duties of this office, sarily model his views by those of the he laid before the public his poem of court, we ask whether there have not Thalaba, the Destroyer, which excited a been exceptions to this rule, and whether strong sensation in the literary com- the mode of Mr. Southey's appointment munity. Much learned dust was raised does not enable him, if it be requisite, to in disputes respecting the pre-eminence add to the number of those exceptions? of its merits or defects, but the decision He is required to produce no slavish of the public was unquestionably in its birth-day odes; none have been pubfavour. In 1801 also appeared a volume lished; but, above all, supposing we of miscellaneous pieces, none of which admitted all that is alleged on this can be read without some degree of subject, we would ask if this be not a praise; it was followed by a second period when the applauses that might volume of the same kind a few years afterwards. be bestowed by the laureate upon the recent efforts of government, would not be echoed by the whole population of liberated Europe? In the autumn of 1802, or the spring of 1803, Mr. Southey retired to the romantic vicinity of Keswick, in Cumber- As for his poem of Wat Tyler, written land, where he has, with the interrup- at the age of nineteen, we do not wish to tion only of short visits to London, re- defend all its principles, neither, we presided ever since, surrounded by his family. sume, would Mr. Soutbey himself. We The house in which he lives is divided shall however, observe, that the fact of in the centre: one half is occupied by its having never been published by the Mr. Southey, his wife, and children, and author, is sufficient to shew, that he the other half by Mrs. Coleridge (-ister himself disapproved of it, and that itssubto Mrs. Southey) and her two sous, sequent publication by others, was a Mrs. Lovell, who it will be remembered malicious attempt to bring him into disis also a sister of Mrs. Southey, but grace and odium. In private life, if a whose husband died a short time after man correct his bad habits, every one vot. 2.] The Count de St. Morys, 15 joins in his commendation. But how before breakfast, his progress in any u different is the system of political mo- dertaking is very rapid. rality! Here, to reform is to apostatize; to acknowledge past error, is to augment it by the crime of desertion; to adhere to a measure which one's friends have forsaken, is called forsaking one's friends, and to adhere to those friends in their abandonment of it, is called abandoning one's principles. For our own parts, such is our opinion of Mr. Southey's motives for having recanted his early opinions, and of the motives of those who have raised an outcry against him, that we would much rather be the objects of such obloquy than the authors of it. The following is a list of such of M Southey's works as have not been already mentioned: Amadis de Gaul, from the Spanish of Garciordonez de Montalvo, 4 vols. 12mo. 1803. for the benefit of his sister, Mrs. Newton,) The Works of Thomas Chatterton, (published 3 vols, 8vo. 1803. We understand that Mr. Southey has several works in progress. One of them is a poem strictly epic, the hero of which, singular as it may seem-is a member of the Society of Friends. This is not the only work of that nature finished; and as Mr. Southey is understood to make it a rule to write 40 lines every morning MR. URBAN, TH Madoc, a poem, 4to. 1805. Specimens of late English Poets, with preliminary Notes, 3 vols. 8vo. 1807. of Francis de Moraes, 4 vols. 1807. Palmerin of England, from the Portuguese Letters from England, by Don Manuel Velasques Espriella, (not absolutely acknowledg ed by, but universally attributed to, Mr. Southey,) 1807. The Remains of Henry Kirke White, with an Account of his Life, 2 vols. 8vo. 1897. Bivar, from the Spanish, 4to. 1808. The Chronicle of the Cid Rodrigo Diaz de The History of Brasil, Vol. 1. 4to. 1810. Vol. The Curse of Kehama, a poem, 4to. 1811. Letter to W. Smith, Esq. M. P. 8vo.1317. THE COUNT DE ST. MORYS. From the Gentleman's Magazine. July 29, 1817. 66 You may have seen, in the Journ HE followingletter, dated July 25, de Paris, and the Quotidienne, a ver contains the particulars of a fatal duel slight notice of a Duel, which termina which took place last week in Paris, and ed in the death of one of the parti terminated in the death of a most amiable The other journals have been preclu and accomplished Nobleman, the Count from mentioning it at ail: and me de St. Morys, well known to the literary will doubtless be taken to cast the bla world by his "Travels in Scandinavia," on the Nobleman who fell; but tr his" Tableau de la Literateur du 18me truth is of too much consequence, Siecle," his "Aperçus sur la Politique throws too strong a light on the de l'Europe," and several other works feelings and motives of political pas breathing the genuine spirit of liberality, here, for me to suffer you to remai united with cultivated taste, and with ignorance of it. the sentiments of loyalty and true honour. The picture of black and sanguinary malignity which is exhibited in the sonduct of his murderer (for we can afford his antagonist no better designation according to the statement before us) is most revolting; but at the same time it is instructive in developing the natural results of those principles which are still at work for the subversion of the French throne, and the destruction of all that is Loyal and honourable in France. It is hoped, the French Government will act with due energy; and cause the murderer to be brought to justice. Yours, &c. Номо The names of the combatants the Count de St. Morys, a Lieut of the Gardes du Corps, and M. B a half-pay officer. Of M. de St. M personal qualities I can speak with but too painful an accuracy; for I ki. him well and certainly a more honourable, a more amiable, a more frank, open-hearted, ingenuous character could not exist. To the purest loyalty, he added the most perfect disinterestedness With an ardent love for his country, he united a liberal zeal for the rational freedom and solid interests of mankind, He was passionately fond of pbilosoph..28 ATHENEUM. Yol. 2. The Count de St. Morys, author of Travels in Scandinavia, &c. [VOL.2 and Herary studies, of the fine arts, to the then prevailing policy of Buonadoi the culture and improvement of parte's Government, he was even solicited Pail estate in the country, to which to act as Maire of the Commune. On e dedica ed all the time that could be his arrival at Houdainville, he found the spared to his professional duties, and splendid residence of his father in ruins. the requisite attendance on the royal The tyrants, who in the name of the Naper-on. Such was his disposition; his tion,guillotined,plundered, and persecuted bistory was no less interesting to those nine-tenths of France, had seized and who have any notion of what true ho- sold the edifice to one Barbier, who nour is, and can distinguish it from the bought it for a trifle, merely to pull it false and heartless pretensions to it, down, and make money of the materials. which are but too frequent in the pre- The evil was without remedy: and Count seat day. M. de St. Morys' family St. Morys submitted to it with the utmost tae was Vialart: he was descended cheerfulness. Fortunately a small part from Michel de Vialart, Ambassador of of the estate had been settled on his Face to Switzerland, in the reigns of mother, who is still living. On this part, Henry III. and Henry IV.; and by later were the stables of the former chateau : aces his family was closely con- and the Count actually converted his fathnected with one of the Electoral Houses er's stables into a residence for himself, his Gerany, His father possessed an wife, and a daughter, of whom he was ampie down in the department of the justly proud, and to whose education he Oise, and built there the magnificent dedicated the most anxious attention. cheteau of Houdainville in a style cor- Here, peaceable and respected, he disrespondent to his noble fortune. At- charged the humble functions of a Village tached, like so many other French no- Magistrate, he became a Member of the blemen, to the House of Bourbon, he Electoral College, and finally of the abandoned his country, his fortune, his Council General of his department. He Ian tul seat, his fine collection of published two or three interesting works, ings and drawings, and took with particularly his travels into Scandinavia ; im his son, then a youth of 17, to join and being ever desirous of converting te standard of the Princes at Coblentz. even his amusements to general utility, dere, a ter having served with distinc- he formed a new and singular collection in one two campaigns, the young of the various species of willows, planting unt arid a niece of the celebrated them for the purpose of experiment, on de Calorne; in consequence of several parts of his property. 66 ch, he afterwards accompanied that "One would have thought that of all host on various missions to differ- men the purchaser and demolisher of Eropean Courts. He subsequently the chateau of Houdainville should have veled alone into Scandinavia: and respected the Count de St. Morys. I med to reside for some years with speak not of that delicacy of sentiment, ady, a woman of great beauty and which might have led one man of honour mplishments, in England, where to restore to another man of honour his livated the study of English lite- ancestral seat, for the mere sum it had e with great success. The father cost him. I am aware, that the libergallantly fighting for his King and ality of the present day, is far too selfish try at Quiberon. The uncle M. for such conduct as that; but at least oane, devoted all the wealth he Barbier should have treated with the *ed saved from the grasp of the Revo- consideration due to his misfortunes, a ionist, to the service of the Royal man who owed those misfortunes to brothers Louis XVIII. and Monsieur. principles the most pure, and bore them The son, having returned to France in with equal dignity and mildness, Cous Sutrisnng to the re tor- St. Aloys never breathed a wish for th. wul So: e of Pele 1.- resuitution of his property. Before the * _༈༙;}} Fe Restoration, he knew it would be use.*. adat ofter the Restoration, the King's cortir ⚫ en ce ad von of going to nation of the sales of the so called cording National demains stood in the way VOL. 2.] Memoirs of the Count de St. Morys. 195 and Count St. Morys had been taught prowled about the country, threatening from his birth to consider the word of a to plunder and burn the houses of all King as sacred.. This dignified, this the Royalists. Barbier, on the other honourable, this unpretending behaviour hand, hoisted the tri-coloured cockade, only served to irritate the mind of Bar- and came forward with alacrity in the bier; for Barbier was a soldier of the cause of the Usurper. His triumph, Usurper, a despiser of the House of however, was short: the second restoraBourbon, a hater of the man whose tion took place. The Count de St. Morys patrimony he enjoyed. was as active on this as on the former occasion; and was the first person to cause the white flag to be substituted for the tri-colour on the Palace of the Thuilleries. Circumstances soon occurred to embitter this hatred, to render it deep, malignant, diabolical. At the first entry of the Allies, the Count was at Paris; he was one of the most active in hoisting "Barbier, pardoned with all the other the white cockade; he with his own rebels by his Sovereign, was too insignifihands tore down Buonaparte's Eagle at cant an object to excite the enmity of the theatre the first night the Allied So- the Count de St. Morys; but his own vereigns appeared there; he was one of violent passions would not leave him at the earliest to offer his services, and to peace. He continued to annoy and cabe enrolled in the King's Gardes du lumniate the Count as much as possible; Corps. Yet even after the restoration, encouraged by those who take every so far was he from any thing like in- opportunity of creating an odium against tolerance, that he would not believe the institution of the Gardes du Corps. there could remain in France any serious At length he published a libellous pamphattachment to the Usurper; and he at let against the Count, in which he chalthe most joined in the good humoured lenged him to single combat. raillery of those who affected still to Count hereupon presented himself at the speak of Buonaparte as the Emperor,' place of meeting, accompanied by three and to give indistinct hints of the hopes of his brother officers of the Gardes du they had fixed on the Isle of Elba. M. Corps, and a respectable neighbour of de St. Morys was indeed reproached by both parties, belonging to the departsome of his friends, as leaning too much ment of the Oise. At this first meeting towards the soi-disant liberal party, of the other gentlemen asked M. Barbier being too great an admirer of the English Constitution, and too indiscreet in the warmth with which he pleaded for the abolition of the Slave Trade. "On this last point, indeed, he insisted with great eloquence in a pamphlet published at Paris in February 1815, and intended to serve as the first part of an essay on European politicks. But his literary pursuits were soon interrupted by the fatal revolution of the 20th of March. The Count de St. Morys flew to his post. He guarded the precious life of the King on the painful journey towards the frontier. He remained to the last in command at Bethune to cover the retreat of Monsieur; and after discharging that important duty, escaped alone, and with extreme difficulty, to Ghent. The what were the complaints against Count St. Morys. He answered vaguely, and was totally unable to assign any reasonable ground of dispute. Then M. de St. Morys said to him, with the utmost coolness, It is not you, Sir, that have been injured, for you cannot state any offence that I have given you; but it is I who am the injured person, in consequence of the infamous letter that you have printed and distributed against my character. I therefore have the choice of arms, and I propose to you the sword." Barbier refused. The pistol? No,' said Barbier, I do not choose that we should both fight with pistols. I am determined that one or other of us shall die; and therefore I will have only on of the pistols loaded. We will draw lots for the choice; and then we will meetin our shirts, without witnesses, place the muzzle of our pistols against each other's breasts, and so fire.' The Count de St. Morys thought he could not ref |