3012. Robert Southey to Thomas Southey, 13 August 1817*

Streatham. 13 Aug. 1817. My dear Tom

My place is taken in Saturdays mail, – & if the weather be fair on Monday morning, you may breakfast with me at Brough.

Have you learnt the new mode of making butter? – Salt the cream, – tie it up in two cloths, – the outer one for cleanliness; – bury it a foot or foot & half deep, – lay a weight upon the earth to assist in pressing out the whey, – take it up in 24 hours, & you will find good butter. It would return to the state of cream, unless the cream had been salted. Here is a discovery which will be useful to Farmer Southey, & his Dame, & his dairy maid.

My Uncle says he shall subscribe to the horns of your new cow.

Love to all,

God bless you RS.