1795. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [shortly after 28 July 1810]
1795. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [shortly after 28 July 1810]*
My dear Wynn
Will you frank the inclosed (because it contains an inclosure) to John May Esqr – Richmond – Surry.
Ld & Lady Holland were here on Saturday. I dined with them & they drank tea with me. The Lady was uncommonly civil, & they nearly extorted a promise that when I went to their Library, Holland House should be my home. I am however very desirous to avoid this, for I have so much the freedom & the feeling of home at Rickmans, that it would be very unpleasant to me to be any where else, even for a few days. – He is translating the Spanish play of the Cid [1] – which may be of some use to the sale of my book. [2] He has just such the very books which I want – the modern Spanish publications which are too costly to be within my reach. But I conceive my own collection to be more curious than his, & far richer in old books.
Allen [3] was loud in reprobating our treatment of Denmark – God help this poor country! – always contriving to do the worst things possible in the worst possible way. – [4]
How is Bedford – & talking of Dapples [5] – how is the bruise?
God bless you
RS.
Notes
* Address: To/ C W Williams Wynn Esqr. M.P./ Wynnstay/ Wrexham
MS: National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: Lord and
Lady Holland visited Southey in Keswick on Saturday 28 July 1810, this letter was written shortly afterwards. See also, Robert
Southey to John Rickman, 1 August 1810, Letter 1801. BACK
[1] Probably Guillén de Castro (1569–1631), Las Mocedades del Cid (1605–1615). Holland’s translation was not published. BACK
[3] John Allen (1771–1843; DNB), political and historical writer, especially on Spanish topics in the Edinburgh Review. He lived at Holland House and often travelled with Lord and Lady Holland. BACK
