1435. Robert Southey to Mary Barker, March 1808 ⁠* 

My dear Senhora

I have not written because unless I had stolen it from sleep I have not had one minute in which it would have been possible to write since my arrival in town: nor was it my intention to have written till I had reached home & could have given you a fair sheet full, & added a fitting letter of thanks to Sir Edward. I pray you make my acknowledgements to him in the meantime. I have done nothing but pack books, tramp the streets, dress, go out, blow my nose & cough for the last fortnight – at present my work is going on, & my cold going off.

God bless you

RS.