It is, in my judgment, a very masterly article.
[Footnote: This must have been Southey's article on Parliamentary Reform in No.

31, which, though due in October 1816, was not, published until February 1817.] I would to heaven, my dear sir, that the opinions of Southey, Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Mr.Frere, and of men like these in learning and genius, concerning my comparative claims to be a man of letters, were to be received as the criterion, instead of the wretched, and in deed and in truth mystical jargon of the _Examiner_ and _Edinburgh Review_.
Mr.Randall will be so good as to repay you the L50, and I understand from Mr.Gillman that you are willing to receive this as a settlement respecting the "Zapolya." The corrections and additions to the two first books of the "Christabel" may become of more value to you when the work is finished, as I trust it will be in the course of the spring, than they are at present.

And let it not be forgotten, that while I had the utmost malignity of personal enmity to cry down the work, with the exception of Lord Byron, there was not one of the many who had so many years together spoken so warmly in its praise who gave it the least positive furtherance after its publication.

It was openly asserted that the _Quarterly Review_ did not wish to attack it, but was ashamed to say a word in its favor.

Thank God! these things pass from me like drops from a duck's back, except as far as they take the bread out of my mouth; and this I can avoid by consenting to publish only for the _present_ times whatever I may write.