480. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 24 January 1800 ⁠* 

My dear Wynn

I have for sometime past been thinking seriously & anxiously upon the future. if you knew the nature of my own talents as well as I know them myself – if you had oftener seen them tried in conversational argument, you would I think be convinced that they are here <the work less> calculated for common law than for any other possible employment. is not the chancery line [1]  equally profitable? as for ambition it must be set out of the question – it is impossible I should ever feel it, my object is profit & not distinction. but in common law I am not equal to the coarse brow beating methods of practise, – & for the criminal part I could not take any share in xxx a case of life & death without forfi sacrificing my feelings & my peace of mind. why not chancery? I will labour with all possible diligence & with conscientious assiduity – & will not this procure me practice?

I am uneasy at time on unavoidably lost. now better – now worse – there is danger that hypochondriacal feelings may take root in me, & the sooner I adopt some efficacious remedy the better. it is better to go abroad for twelvemonths – than still to expect strength in England. the journey will be as useful as the climate from the perpetual excitement of novelty. I should certainly prefer going to France – but in this there would be difficulty & delay. Trieste is accessible – & the journey thro Germany safe. at Trieste I can judge of the security of Italy, & perhaps remove to Padua or Vicenza, the places recommended by Duppa.

Of late I have done nothing except some little to Thalaba. [2]  it is nearly three months since I have reviewed a book – & the newspaper writing I have given up for some time. [3]  I thought of xxxing going up to keep this term, – but the expense would be inconvenient, & it will be as well to make up my plans here, & not visit London till it lies in my way to Hamburgh. Immediately on my return I will take a house in London & settle to my profession.

Go where I will I shall take Edith with me. her health alone would be motive sufficient. – my eyes & ears are sufficiently open & quick – & I shall certainly pick up an hundred pounds worth of matter upon my way. – did I tell you that the copy right of my Joan of Arc – & the first volume of Poems, [4]  (excluding what had been given for the editions on sale – was sold a few months ago for £370. the previous profits had not been less than 250. I gained by both 138–12s. such is the proportion between authors & booksellers profits. This knowledge will however be useful to me in disposing of Thalaba, when it is finished & correct enough to sat[MS obscured] me.

If I go to Trieste it will be necessary to have the summer for travelling & to land at Hambro as near the beginning of June as possible. Italy may very likely be re-revolutionized – but the Adriatic will always be open – & a retreat to Sicily or Sardinia or Portugal. besides a French army is not so formidable in its conquests as a Russian one, & those Bears you know do not eat English-folk.

When will the Homer [5]  be finished?

God bless you –

yrs affectionately

Robert Southey.

Friday Jan 24. 1800