Robert Southey to Thomas Davis Lamb, c. 18 June 1792: 'To see the manners of different countries is certainly of the utmost utility & what no university can teach — Homer may tell us of the method to cut up an ox three thousand years ago, or give a specimen of Penelopes politesses when she calls her maid bitch — or Ulysses decency when he threatens to leave Thersites in the situation of the man who cut off his hairs — but Homer can give no information either of men or manners as they are now — knowledge of the world is unattainable from books you have made a judicious choice.'