Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, 25 September - 14 October, 1796: 'I wish I could give you a satisfactory answer to a very interesting question. I ardently wish for children — yet if God should bless me with any I shall be unhappy to see them poisoned by the air of London. "Sir I do thank God for it, I do hate Most heartily that city." so said John Donne. tis a favorite quotation of mine — my spirits always sunk when I approachd it. green fields are my delight — I am not only better in health, but even in heart in the country — a fine day exhilarates my heart — if it rains I behold the grass assume a richer verdure as it drinks the moisture — every thing that I behold is “very good" except Man — & in London I see nothing but Man & his works.'