Glasgow. Comfortable night at Dalnacardoch. Grounds of Taymouth Castle (but not inside, due to the imminent arrival of Lord Bradalbane and his bride). Killin and the burial ground of the Lairds of MacNab (the current Laird, while wooing a lady, promised her the grandest burial place in Scotland - she refused him). Night at Tyndrum - inns in Scotland inferior to the English, but far superior in terms of wine, rum and brandy (inns in Yorkshire an exception to this). Loveliness of the Vale of Glenorchy and of Loch Awe. Splendours of Inverary Castle...but the town a paltry deception. Description of journey from Inverary to Arrochar. Visited Inchtavannach. Night at Dumbarton (a dirty town, with one dirty inn), and castle before church the next day. Finally to a splendid inn in Glasgow (whose coffee room alone is larger than the assembly room in Ramsgate).
No formal addressee or date or signature - apparently the draft of a love letter to one Mary Hallowell, first object of his youthful affection and chosen life companion of his later years, but also a letter of apology and regret
Hague. Visit (by canal) on July 7th to last day of Haarlem fair. Failure to hear Haarlem organ because of a lengthy sermon. Wonderful flowers and gardens. 7 hour voyage to Leyden on 9th July. University on vacation, so town is peaceful and pleasant. Thomas Gaisford (regius professor of Greek) in Leiden for a few months collating mss. - they visit Daniel Wyttenbach, who expresses surprise that such a learned scholar as PE could be so merry (quite the opposite to Valckenaer and Ruhnken) - when Gaisford reports the story to his wife, she says that the household consider PE a vast deal more 'vrolijk' than Gaisford. 3 nights in Leyden (because of presence of Gaisfords), staying on Golden Lion, then on to The Hague. House names displayed prominently (usually compounds of pleasure, rest or prospect). Failure to find intended hotel because of language difficulties - ends up at Marechal de Turenne, which he suspects will be expensive. (Sunday, 14th July). Does not think The Hague as pretty as the Dutch do. Walked yesterday and saw many groups of ragged boys playing cards on the pavement - perhaps Jews keeping the sabbath holy. The common people (who cannot all be Jews) are as ragged and filthy as the Jews themselves. Vieille Cour only building to arrest attention. 2 mile walk to Scheveningen (past an odorous cemetery).
Henry Bedford (Admiralty clerk) and his brother G.C.Bedford (Exchequer clerk - OW, and co-author with Southey of The Flagellant). NB References to Wynn tout court probably refer to Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn, very much part of the Southey set, rather than his elder brother, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn.
Just returned from Tunbridge Wells, leaving behind those he would rather be with. Has a great secret, which seems to be on the point of coming out - but PE is against this. Has received a promotion, and went to T Wells to provide lodgings for his mother (which she did not occupy). Stayed at Mr D's. A very wordy account of his relations with the daughter of the household - his brother Henry came to stay and was involved. How are his attentions to and friendship with the girl to be interpreted? Is he being honourable? Appears to decide on making a proposal - but by letter or in person? (NB He died unmarried.)
Still too busy to visit, and when the job is done he will go with brother Henry (who really needs a holiday) to stay in Henley. Courtenay (Thomas Peregrine, OW), has gone to Totnes to secure his parliamentary seat.
Transcription of title page of an edition of Euripides (heidelberg 1597), with parallel translation into Latin. Describes an 'indecent' image of a naked woman in a medallion.
