932. Robert Southey to Charles Danvers, [1] May 1804*

May day 1804.Dear Charles,

I have a daughter whose name is Edith, born last night. at four in the afternoon Edith lay down as usual to take a nap. at half after five she awoke feeling herself unwell. at half after eight she was obliged to retire to her room, & before ten my daughter very considerately made her appearance, knowing I did not like to be kept up late. They are both doing well. the young one is very large & so hideously ugly that I think she would look better in a bottle than a bed.

Clarkson says xxx you expect to clear my books. I do not comprehend what the phrase means for it smelleth of the Custom House, but it gives me hope for I have been groaning in spirit about those books, which are exactly those which I now most want. Send them off as soon as ever you can recover them, if such good fortune should befall me.

A letter yesterday from Lisbon¹ announces that the Cheeses & Jellies were that very day detected, proved & approved, the Cheeses, tho not so good as that of the former year, being better than any other except real Stilton that he had ever tasted, & arriving happily at a time when skim cheese is 2/4d a pound! he begs for more as soon as they can be had, so bespeak three for that purpose, & I will also beg you to send him off two toasting cheeses the first opportunity.

I go for London as soon as Rickman shall have answered my letter by this post,² – & will send you from thence a draft for £35. which will pay Ediths debt to Martha, & clear my account with Danvers & White.³ this has been delayed thus long merely because I have been for the last month in expectation of this event, & rather wish to know the state of my account with Longman before I draw, as perhaps I may be enabled to make the draft 40 – & so leave a little balance in your hands.

If the little box which came in the last cargo from Lisbon – be indeed not very big I could wish you to send it to Rickmans. my Uncle tells me there are many books in it which will be of immediate use, & having no list I cannot pick & chuse, so if you will ship it off per waggon I shall meet it.

farewell. I am writing circulars & must therefore excuse the length or brevity of one of them.

God bless you – RS.