2118. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 28 June 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. June 28. 1812.

My dear G.

I impute it to my most wicked cold that in spite of a dogged application for the last week I have made very little progress for Gifford. Whether I have blown all ideas out of my head thro the nose, or shaken them drawn them out by sneezing I cannot tell, – but I am very stupid, & that part of my time which has been most profitably spent, has been when in pure despair, & for the sake of my eyes I have een removed to the sofa & gone to sleep. By way of trying what exercise would do I went one day with Danvers to the top of Causey Pike, & made my sides sore for three days with rolling great stones down the mountain, – which (be it known to you M^r Bedford) is among the amusements xx reserved for you in your sound state. Causey Pike is my Bowling mountain, – & a most grand thing it is to see a huge stone go bounding down to the very bottom.

I start for Durham on Monday July 13 & will sans fail (if no accident occur to prevent me) be home by the end of the month. – Would that this article [1]  for the Q. were off my hands. the Register was finished last week. [2] 

I have no heart to speak of politics. If any thing is gained by truckling to America it will be the first time that a Government xx ever gained any thing by a concession forced from its fears. [3]  – The next Irish que demand will be for a Catholic Establishment, – they who are bent upon a separation from this country can never go upon a more popular ground. I know not upon what grounds they who have concede so much can refuse this proper consequence. I would have given every thing except seats in parliament & fought against that. To fighting Paddy will bring it at last, & then by the help of the bayonet & the halter he will be quiet for another generation, during which it is to be hoped the increasing industry & prosperity of the country will do that for the people which never can be done by Acts of Parliaments or importing red-hot Catholics into S^t Stephens Chapel. – tame them & civilize them.

God bless you

RS.

Arrange your plans if you can, to come with Blanco. [4]