292. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 8 March 1798*

March 8. 98. Bristol.My dear Wynn

The cause of my silence was waiting to hear from my brother Tom, that I might say something thro you to Ld Proby. his letter & yrs reached me together this morning. he will be very glad to go with Ld. P. from my Uncles letter I understand he is not to be rated in Ld Ps ship — but to go to Lisbon in her, where my Uncle can assist him thro Ld St Vincents. in this I may be mistaken. Tom is on board the Mars, & now at Spithead; your cousin I suppose will summon him in time, & his letter will afford a sufficient reason for quitting Capt Hood.

We have been a week at Bristol, in lodgings near those where you saw us, & I now begin to feel somewhat settled.

If I had not unpxx unpolitely declined the proffered honour, I should soon like Matthew Lewis have been exhibited in the booksellers shop.¹ A Magazine Man has been requesting Cottle to obtain my permission, & likeness for the “Monthly Visitor.’²

In our opinion of Godwins book³ you & I differ, tho, perhaps, I agree with you upon the subject of marriage. perhaps, I say, as of all important questions it appears to me the most difficult of decision. I cannot however see any evil tendency in the book. surely it can persuade no woman to prefer concubinage to marriage; but xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx xxxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxxxx, I incline to the other opinion myself, but I do not think ill of those who differ in judgement from me.

My law & my printing go on well. all the latter employments will be off my hands when I get into the Pleaders Office – & then will there be a good poet spoilt. the inclination I never shall lose but if I should <ever> reach the goal I aim at, the power will perhaps be gone. If I can get tolerable practice as a Special Pleader I certainly think it adviseable to rest there. ⁴ I feel assured that xx to speak well in public is what I cannot attain to. The fluency which I had something of formerly, is gone – , I express myself with difficulty, & awkwardness even in conversation, if any effort of recollection be necessary. this is one of the changes in my character of which I am sensible.

I expect to send you my new edition⁵ in five weeks. I should be satisfied with it did I not know what I could make Madoc. the poor Welsh man however must wait.⁶ There is a long lease of me to run, & he has the reversion.

God bless you. RS.