685. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 28 June [1802] ⁠* 

Dear Grosvenor

Yours is a good natured letter. & I would repent if I could – but my time is not come yet – I have no grace for repentance – tho God knows calls enough – for the postman brings me nothing but reproaches for silence & if I answered them as duly as they arrive nothing else should I be able to do. Look at my list of employments – Madoc in correction. [1]  Kehama writing. [2]  a History of Portugal & all its appurtenancies – about six volumes in quarto. [3]  & moreover a job in hand for the booksellers at which I work two hours daily. [4]  is it enough – & do you not ex imo corde [5]  – excuse a fellow for not scrawling over letter paper, who with all this on his hands has a natural inclination for yawning – sleeping in an easy chair – & talking over a bottle of wine? I could employ all the eyes heads & hands of a Hindoo God.

Yet I have thought of writing & talked of it. did you never want to disembogue in a cold day when it was uncomfortabell to go into the garden & sit in the cold? a homely illustration – but it will do – & it is taken from nature. but I meant & resolved to write because I had something to tell you – I have reason to expect an increase of family this autumn next [6]  – xxx & having said that I need not say any thing of the whole train of thought & feelings that it occasions. Take this then for a letter – & two good reasons for its brevity – I am going first to put it in the Post Office – & then to call on your friends at Clifton [7]  – whom I could not get at yesterday on account of the weather.

God bless you – & more next time

yrs truly

R Southey.

Kingsdown. Bristol