1224. Robert Southey to Mary Barker, 11 October 1806
1224. Robert Southey to Mary Barker, 11 October 1806 *
Monday October 11 1806
Edith is safe thus far – She was uncomfortable last evening taken in labour at three in the morning, & at a quarter after six delivered of a boy. every thing being as expeditious & well as possible – He astonished the house by his marvellous loud voice during this day, before he was born: whereby I prognosticated great things & am satisfied that he is lawfully mine: he is a bouncer, as ugly as may be xxxx with plenty of dark hair, & his name is Herbert
Now about going to Penkridge – I will see you there in the early spring certamente. If my coming before Christmas could be of any real use to you, you know, or ought to know, that I would walk the whole way barefoot rather than not go but the possibility of this I do not see – I shall during this quarantine go for a few days to visit Senhouse, who has been at the Island, [1] & in his own & father’s name invited me
You have got rid of the Evangelicals – & if you are disposed to get rid of their Magazine also, [2] tie them up & reserve them for me. My literary stomach, you know, like a Pig’s converts refuse and offal into nutriment – I shall write again shortly, and will then beg you to make some enquiries about the Wolverhampton miracle – [3]
God bless you
Yours affectionately
RSouthey
Notes
* MS: Beinecke Library, Osborn MSS File ‘S’, Folder 14190, undated copy in an unidentified hand. TR; 1p. The original letter seems not to have survived.
Unpublished. BACK
[2] The Evangelical Magazine, which between 1803 and 1826 was edited by George Burder (1752–1832; DNB). BACK
[3] In 1806, the Catholic religious controversialist John Milner (1752–1826; DNB), published a pamphlet entitled ‘Authentic Documents Relative to the Miraculous Cure of Winefred White of Wolverhampton at St. Winefred’s Well in Flintshire; with Observations Thereon’. It gave an account of how the paralysed Winifred White (dates unknown) was cured by bathing in the water at Holywell and was immediately able to walk again. BACK
