856. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 24 November [1803]*

Thursday. 24 Nov.Dear Wynn

I have received yours with its contents this evening.

Last night I finished my Bardsey book¹ & very much to my own satisfaction. with local & particularizing scenery of course nothing could be done – for I have not been able to find any account whatever of the Island. I have pourd out a fine description of a fine autumn day with shore-objects, & made good use of my catholic knowledge in a service for the dead. thereto Llewelyn² is introduced in a coracle. My mountaineering recollections are to come in the next book. some images I learnt by Llanberris – the best is one which came to me at Wynnstay – there where the Dee has some outlandish name – there where we saw the French Duke³ drawing – after all the objects of sight I shall turn to those of sound, which always affect me very much – & having dwelt on them – add – a blind man would have loved that lovely spot.⁴ – Your Dee certes is a most lovely river between Llangollen & Corwen – there where it rolls over amber colourd rocks but the finest river scenery we saw in Wales was before Llanrwst – in that wild valley – where the river so often rested in dark dead pools – what the Spaniards call the remansos⁵ of the river. Oh I could show you such a mountain river here in our Greeta – the loud-lamenter which is the plain English of its Norse name! (by the bye gritar is the Portugueze word to lament aloud) & such a famous bridge over which Peter Elmsley could no more pace with his load of flesh & blood, than the heaviest laden sinner can get over the razor edged bridge leading to Paradise over Hell.⁶

I am reviewing a History of the Methodists⁷ – a plain matter of fact Book which none but Methodists read now but which will be consulted by the Historians of England. I will blow the trumpet.⁸

God bless you. RS.