637. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 9 December [1801]*

My dear Wynn

Since you left London I have hardly had leisure to miss you not from the pressure of official business – going with Corry & his son¹ to Walkers Lectures² is all I do in my secretaryship – My Mother arrived on the Monday – in far worse health than I had expected. indeed she appears far gone in consumption. some symptoms which usually attend that cursed disease do not appear – & this is some little ground of hope. but consumption has not always those symptoms. Of course much time & all attention is taken up –. these evils must come. – My connections in life are dropping off as I advance, & no young ties supply their places. – I will tell you what shape my plans – or my ideas of plans according to Platonic philosophy³ – have lately been assuming. this foolish place under Corry cannot subsist a second year. from no fault on my part nor any unwillingness. but he does not want me – I am utterly useless to him – he is a weak man & therefore an unsteady one. plan about me he can have had none – what he says today is merely for the sake of saying something – he did not think of it yesterday – & he will not remember it tomorrow. I know I am right in thus judging – varnish the portrait with all gentlemanlike-courtesy as you will – still this is the likeness. Whether or not he will give me any situation in his own dear country – who can tell? – all I can say is, that as most assuredly I have no claim – so surely it is wisest to have no expectation. If then at the years end – I am as I was at the beginning, my wish is to return to Cumberland, & sit quietly down. if any new changes should make an administration with whom I have any interest – of course a situation in the South of Europe would be very acceptable. if not – I can live in that country to the extent of my wishes upon a very small income. I can be luxuriously lodged for 25 £ a year – & unless I greatly miscalculate can live more comfortably for three pounds a week (including every expence) than I do at this time for more than double that sum. I know not xxxx – if only inclination were consulted – how I could be more happily settled than in that leisure & that most lovely country.

As Corry only ties me by the leg – I am at full liberty to amuse myself within the length of the tethering string. for any serious employment I have not quiet enough, the correction of Madoc⁴ excepted – that, tho more slow & laborious than any other work, is yet a thing that can be done amid all interruptions, which any thing requiring continuous feeling could not. I am also about to write verses once more for the Morning Post – an employment not very irksome – unobjectionable because obscure & exceedingly convenient – inasmuch as it will bring in a guinea a week. I shall in this have a reference to after use – so you will see the Spanish ballads one by one. ⁵

I shall miss Elmsley when he migrates to Edinburgh – far more than any other xxxxxxxx I should any other person, for I see him more frequently xx with & that always with pleasure.

Grosvenor is better – he has been very ill.

The two first books of Madoc will be ready for you when you return. do not fail – if you can – to borrow for you <me> the chronicle of Caradoc⁶ – I think that is its name –

God bless you yrs affectionately Robert Southey

Dec. 9. 25 Bridge Street