1243. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [15 December 1806]
1243. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [15 December 1806] *
My dear Wynn –
The inclosed letters reached me. one by this evening, the other by last nights post. I know not what better to do, than to thus immediately transmit them to you. The state of Brazil has I know been the particular object of my uncles researches for very many years. I know little about it, having left it (unluckily as it now seems) for the last part of my historical labours [1] – as it would be in its natural order. However I can make out examine the papers & make any report from them which x may be of present utility; if the said information be required – I will pack them off for Lisbon & myself with them in the month of April – & come back with a great work upon Brazil [2] –
The papers in question are not at Bristol – but in London – I will not send for them till I know whether you xx conceive any summary of their contents is called for <required> without delay & indeed whether the papers had better come to me – or I go to the papers –
God bless you
RS
Monday
Notes
* Address: To/ C W Williams Wynn Esqr M.P./ Whitehall/
London
Stamped: KESWICK/ 298
Postmark: [partial] DEC18/ 1806
MS: National Library of Wales, MS
4812D. ALS; 2p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: The ‘Monday’ with which the letter is dated must have been 15 December as this was a Monday
in 1806. BACK
[2] The prospective flight of the Portuguese court to Brazil (29 November 1807) prompted Southey, at his uncle Herbert Hill’s request, to begin a history of Brazil, using papers sent him by Hill and stored by Rickman. Southey wished Wynn to use his position as Under Secretary of State in the Home Office to ascertain whether the government might provide him support during the preparation of a work likely to provide it with useful information in the new political situation; see Southey to John Rickman, 23 December 1806, Letter 1247. BACK
