Robert Southey to John May, 2 November 1797: 'I saw Bullers death in the news-paper. — it surprized me. we are accustomed to think it dreadful for a young man to die during when his conduct is wrong. — perhaps tho a natural feeling this is a mistaken one. two young men live in wickedness. the one dies unreclaimed in his youth. the other grows old & repents. so might the first, but for the accident of death. may we not then expect the process of amendment to be carried on in the next state of existence? else — can we expect the same work to be performed in a week or in a month? ...'