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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.

Florence. Sailed from Dover on Saturday, 18th May, 1816, and sailed from Malta (for his return to England) on Sunday, 18th May, 1817. Left Naples on 1st June and arrived in Rome 4 days later. Intended to remain there 2 days, but bumped into the Miss Allens (v.271), so stayed until the 18th - in mourning due to death of nephew in Pisa in the spring, and also 1 of the 3 sisters - the 2 survivors and their mother are with their aunts in Rome. Trip to Tivoli - frequently mentioned by Horace, so PE bought a copy to take with him. 5 days from Rome to Florence - carriage overturned and PE tumbled into a ditch (without damage) - it will soon ne too hot to travel in the middle of the day. Much better pleased with Florence than in the autumn, having spent the interim in the filth and misery of Rome and Naples. Joined from Rome to Florence by Timothy Rogers of New York (whose brother Elmsley is named after PE's brother) - he had an affair with a married woman in Naples. Miss V (v.274) has found her man again - rich, good-tempered but such a fool (according to Mary King). Plans for his journey home - the Sothebys are in Venice, and he hopes to catch up with them in Heidelberg, and then persuade them to spend 2 or 3 weeks in Holland. Availability or not of various fruits in Italy. Letters PE found in Rome - more on the dishonest Roman postal clerk. Sending 3 boxes, mostly of books, from Leghorn - will need to pay duty on his return. Asks for name of Miss Bigge's husband (in the military?), and passes on good wishes.

Naples. Boarded the Ranger brig bound for Malta and Egypt (but didn't get to latter). Palermo - Trapani (3 nights at sea from Palermo!) - Malta - Messina. Voyage partly undertaken for the health of Lady Harriet Drummond, but her sea-sickness caused the abandonment of the original plan of going to Athens. PE not as sea-sick as he thought he might be - only sick so as to make a discharge on one day. Will ignore Malta and Sicily till they meet, because he needs to address a letter from his sister-in-law - but Valetta very pretty - after 20 odd years of rule the English have introduced cleanliness, but have yet to set up a church. Sister-in-law's poor health caused by the weather - but the spring in Naples was just as raw as in England. Thanks for offer to look after PE's exports from Italy. Miss B. (Bigge?) has married. Various business matters. Mrs Bedford has died - PE has not heard from Bedford the son, but he himself could not write to anyone after his own mother's death. Some gossip from Grote concerning the love affairs of one Diana. Comments on the will of Mr Carew. Plans to return to England via Rome, Florence and Venice.

Naples. Ship sailing this evening for Malta. Repeats (in case previous letters have not Arrived) that he has not heard from sister-in-law since November - and to pay the

Naples. Please pay

Naples, 35, Largo del Castello. More on the dishonest clerk. Left Rome on Shrove Tuesday, 18th February. Last hours spent with Bonars, who gave pancakes to PE and his travelling companion Pigou. Agnes (Aggy) Bonar (who would have refused PE some years ago, had he made her an offer) has settled her

Apologises that PE has not heard from the family since January. His mother tripped over an ottoman a month ago and bruised her hip - much better, though still not able to walk. Family and other local gossip. Sister Nancy has some ducks. Recently blooded for a headache, and now better. (Sister-in-law.) Family health issues (hers and Mary's). PE's books have arrived. Preparations for coronation and her indifference to it. The house in Sloane Street has been let out, and other legal matters. Her brother is in Ealing on half pay, having failed to get a Mediterranean appointment.

Paris, Hotel de Nimes, Rue de Grenelle. Cf. 297. Weather warm, and hotel tolerably quiet, clean and reasonable. If he were to stay long he would need to get introductions to respectable families - but not many of these, since one of the ingredients of respectability is wealth. Remarks on absence of French probity in selling, and on his new cotton stockings. Remarkable that relations can live so happily in the same house. Saw the Comte d'Artois (Charles X) with a carriage drawn by 8 horses, and surrounded by guards - last seen in Edinburgh in 1803, in very different circumstances. Sites in Paris are open every day and all day, and are free. Post-revolution churches are stripped of their ornaments (kept in an old convent), but the painted glass has survived. No pumps or wells in the city, but Seine water is good to drink.

London. Copy of Mr Romilly's opinion on Boylston's will (v. 294?). Reconciliation of Pitt and Addington. Items of gossip. PE has remitted to John the last portion of the family estate. The family has, however, a sixth interest in a new edition of Chambaud's dictionary (perhaps from his bookseller uncle Peter, d. 1802?)

London. PE has made funds available - has paid for tenant's repairs, some debts, and has started to crop the ground. Has walked around Marylebone - 50 years ago it was as rural as now Hampstead and Highgate are, but now very built up. Rambling discussion of reasons for this. Criticism of House of Lords. Wry consideration of high society. Sympathy expressed for Caroline of Brunswick, antipathy towards George IV. Wry consideration of high society.