3002. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 15 June 1817⁠* 

15. June. 1817. Milan

My dear G.

Even a few lines will be welcome from a far land. We arrived here yesterday, & depart tomorrow, turning our faces homeward. We go to Como, where I expect to find Landor, – a greater pleasure could hardly be in expectation. About this day week we hope to have recrost the Alps, & to be on the way to or from Chamouny, starting for that place from Martigny. Then we make again for the Chateau de Echichens, where M^r Awdry (my Uncles brother in law) [1]  is residing, & where I feel among relations & friends. Owing to the unusual lateness of the season we were too early for Switzerland, & they who advised me to cross by S Gothard [2]  forgot to add it would be necessary to take a carriage to pieces. This has sent us by a very circuitous route, at much cost of time, but gain of scenery, for having entered Switzerland from Besançon we went by Lausanne & Geneva to Chamberry, gave two days to the Chartreuse, [3]  & crost by M Cenis [4]  to Turin. – I send a box from hence to Prince Esterhazy, [5]  & tho every possible care will be taken to advise M. R [6]  what is his name of it, it may be as well that you should mention it to Herries.

Every thing has gone well with us. I have kept up with my journal – by great exertion, & when I return shall be glad, & with good reason, that I had resolution to make the journey – my sprits are the best in the world for my companions, [7]  – for myself, they were better at home, & will be better when I am at home again: then I shall probably feel benefit from the journey.

I sent a small parcel of books from Paris addressed to Longman, – it was not large enough to justify me in troubling Herries friend. From Frankfort perhaps, certainly from Brussels, I shall dispatch a larger cargo. I wrote home from Calais, Paris, Neufchatel & Turin. I wish you would write to Keswick & say so, adding that you have heard from Milan, & that we were all well. It is Sunday evening, Nash & Senhouse are gone to the Opera, [8]  – there is what in England would be called a Sixpenny hop going on under my feet, – & I remain, xxxxx to bring up my journal, & scrawl this, hasty letter to you, to the fiddle & the clamour below.

You will wish to ask a hundred questions, – & you will see how impossible it is that I should answer them. I can only tell you that Skiddaw fairly stands a comparison with the Alps which I have seen, & that he will outlast those which we have crost. I fear it must be five weeks before we reach England, let me find a letter at the Dover post office with 20 £. I shall draw on Longman either from Frankfort (if Herries letter should obtain me credit there) or at Brussels, where I am known & have it.

The weather has been tremendously hot since we left Switzerland. Summer began on the 1 June, – & my summer cold with it – except as far the nose is concerned I am in good health, but as for the tincture of the skin both Senhouse & myself might pass for Moors. – Mackenzie was more than civil to me at Paris, [9]  – he was in a high degree attentive & obliging.

Tell the Mag: Rot., that at Geneva I ate seven rolls for breakfast. In that proportion the Wolf has eaten & drank ever since he landed on the continent.

Oh that I could hear all was well at home & in Q Anne Street. I have thought sometimes too of your Carb Uncle – Your health in a glass of lemonade, – with which I have splashed the letter.

God bless you

RS.