1223. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 9 October [1806] ⁠* 

My dear Wynn

I have just received from you two extra-best-superfine-elephant-imperial-franks – containing a compleat apparatus but not one line of directions how to use it, & without such I might as well think of squaring the Circle. Into one of these the inclosed I suppose had slipt – perhaps in place of a letter designed for me –

Is the way to use it thus – place the paper xxxxxx under the black leaf, & the glass under that? But what is to be done with <on the black leaf one of the oiled leaves in the book, or rest the hand on the little piece of mahogany, the duplicate will then be read transparently. [1]  This is the best guess I can xxxx form – but I shall not try it till I hear your directions.

The unborn inheriteth not my punctuality not having arrived when expected. [2]  They who keep others waiting often plead difference of clocks for an excuse – (I remember once putting my watch back twenty minutes & marching up school with it in my hand to convince Beef Steaks [3]  that he had come in too soon) – but the unborns computation of time is sure to be right.

I am working as hard as seven negroes just when canes are xxx cut.

God bless you

RS.

Thursday Oct 9 – & now do I xxxx remember that no letters go tonight for London – however if one should come from you by tomorrows post I shall not receive it in time – being to dine upon the Island [4]  – so I dismiss this for the sake of the inclosed.