3347. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 3 September 1819⁠* 

Inverness. 3 Sep^t. 1819

My dear G.

We arrived here this afternoon, tomorrow we move northward; – & having advanced as far as Dunrobin shall return to Dingwall, cross thence by one line of new road to the western sea, & come back by another to this place; – the work of eight days in all. I have had a surgeon [1]  to look at my volcano, the crater tho neither so deep as a well nor so wide as a church door, [2]  is quite wide & deep enough, – & in addition to its usual business of discharging, xxx it is now carrying on a laboratory of superb flesh. The surgeon therefore has changed the simple ointment for one which is to act as a slow caustic. I offered to lie by, – or to return home without delay, – but he says there is no occasion to do either & recommends me to proceed, regaling myself occasionally with – Epsom salts. [3] 

Were it not for this hole in my head, & for an ailment at the other end [4]  (which seems likely ere long to disable me from for long walking, & to be xx become an a life-long infirmity) – this journey would be a thoroughly delightful one. And even as it is, – with just a sense of something amiss – sufficient to remind me continually that the body is out of order, – I am making good use of good opportunities, & enjoying intervals of sunshine spirits. – I keep as full a journal as hunger & sleepiness will let me. [5]  It will amount to a pretty extensive tour in Scotland. – Some comical things have happened to me. – They sent me a diploma from Banff, making me an honorary member of a Literary Society, – the rules of which will amuse you much as a curious specimen of Scotch legislation. [6]  And last night I was kept awake till two o clock by the bustle & noise of a Grand Lodge who <were> busy in making Free Masons over my head. – My sides still ache with laughing at the uproar they made, while the poor aspirants were going thro their great & amazing trials at their initiation.

But it is too late for me to tell you the whole story, – & I am too sleepy. I must take my salts & go to bed.

God bless you

RS.