1423. Robert Southey to John May, 9 February 1808

1423. Robert Southey to John May, 9 February 1808 ⁠* 

Tuesday. Feby. 9. 1808.

My dear friend

You may well suppose that I should have replied to your last letter, tho only to express how much I admired its true spirit of true philosophy, – if I had not been in daily expectation of the event which has now at length happily taken place. About an hour ago Edith was safely delivered of a daughter. [1]  the child is a very fine one, & God be praised, every thing as yet promises well.

I start in a few days, but as I shall make some calls on the road it will probably be about a fortnight before I reach London. Then I shall hear of you, & if we should not meet then, I will certainly see you at Hale. [2]  It will give me very great pleasure to shake you by the hand once more.

Remember us kindly to Mrs May. – Poor Worthington. [3]  – I am anxious to know if there be news of him yet – & poor Lisbon! – it makes my heart ache to think of that place which I love so well.

God bless you – my excellent good friend –

Robert Southey.


Notes

* Endorsement: No. 133 1808/ Robert Southey/ No place 9th Feb./ recd. 13th do/ ansd. 19th March
Watermark: shield/ 1803/ T Botfield
MS: Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin. ALS; 1p.
Previously published: Charles Ramos (ed.), The Letters of Robert Southey to John May: 1797–1838 (Austin, Texas, 1976), p. 114. BACK

[1] Emma, the Southeys’ fifth child. BACK

[2] May’s residence at Downton in Wiltshire. BACK

[3] John Worthington. Business partner of John May’s. Later a merchant in Brazil. BACK

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