2120. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 3 July 1812 ⁠* 

Keswick. July 3. 1812

My dear Tom

We start on Monday week, July 13, Danvers & I, without David, & instead of our first-intended route we mean to come down the vale of the Tees, getting into it from Penrith, or Kirk-Oswald, according to the best information which we can obtain. We purpose to sleep at Middleton Teesdale on Tuesday. You can learn how far that is from S^t Helens, & it judge thereby at what time to look for us. Our object is to see the falls of the Tees, & at the same time shorten our journey. Danvers proposing to wishing to be be as long here as he can.

He & I part on our return at Kendal, but we mean to visit [MS obscured] Caves on our way. I have a scheme in my head for pressing you into this service. We should be four five or six days at the utmost reaching Keswick, – two days will take you back, & Sarah & Miss Margaret may spare you a few days for laking in the summer.

Miss Barker arrived on Monday, & Sam Reid has succeeded to Davids bed at John Fishers. [1]  All this has hindered me xx grievously, & I have too much lee way to fetch up x. However I shall get it thro it, & am not a little pleased to perceive that what I have been writing with minute-interruptions, by sentences & half sentences, for the last fortnight, is yet well connected, & bears no mark of the distractions under which it has been put together.

Love to Sarah & my vociferous niece

RS.