608. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 29 September 1801 ⁠* 

Dear Grosvenor

The inclosed will show you that I have not disregarded your criticisms, unhappily the unfinished letter got wet thro, still more unluckily I was wet thro also. quid mirum? [1]  the day was as if the deluge were recommencing – as if the firmament had a diabetes – & neither my coat waistcoat or pantaloons were of Indian rubber.

But to be very serious, I found on my reaching Llangedwin on Saturday evening, a letter from Rickman, who is with Abbot [2]  in Dublin as his private Secretary. it contained a letter from Corry offering me the same situation with for one year – with a salary of 200£ Irish, & 200 more for travelling expences. there was no room for choice – & in all human probability my next will announce my departure for the dear Land of Pistols & Potatoes!

So my Welsh tour is spoilt after however a six days journey thro the very marrow of Snowdon.

Grosvenor I am not out of spirits, & yet I am disturbed. you know I have no ambition, the paths of privacy are the paths of pleasantness. – however to look at the white side – my winter must be spent in London, & near you for I must lodge near Great George Street.

I have written to avoid an immediate voyage, wishing rather to enter upon my scribeship in London. this is hardly probable. tomorrow therefore I move for Keswick.

Wynn has seriously advised me to bog with the bog house door open in Ireland, that being always the Paddies pistol mark at the Inns & Lodging houses! Zounds – were it not for John Rickman a post at Botany Bay were better.

God bless you Grosvenor Bedford – my old schoolfellow, my old friend!

Robert Southey.

At Llangedwin. one of the loveliest places in the world – but damnably out of the way of the mail coach.