Item 77 - Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn to Peter Elmsley

To PE in Rome. Since PE left his house on 16th May he has received only one letter from Florence, dated 9th November 1816. (Richard?) Heber has asked that PE should search for a long-lost ms. of Porphyry in the Vatican or Laurentian Library. Has returned to Wales early for the Easter holidays, partly to see his wife and children (whom he had left behind through lack of funds - poor rental income), and partly because he cannot bear to support the current inefficient administration (yet he finds the opposition even worse). Reluctantly accepts the revival of the Sedition Bill and the suspension of Habeas Corpus, in view of nationwide riots. Southey in a vituperative public row after the publication of Wat Tyler: A Dramatic Poem. David Hughes, Principal of Jesus College, very soon after his marriage, became melancholy and shot himself. Possible successors - it will probably be Foulkes, no scholar but very worthy and gentlemanlike (he turned out to be the longest-serving principal of the college). Has not seen his brother since his wedding (on 4th February), but will meet him and his bride on the morrow. Phillimore (Joseph) has succeeded Horner as MP for St Mawes. Inflationary pressures across the country - the poor rates in particular are causing land to be left uncultivated. The printing of paper money, without real capital behind it.