3964. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 14 February 1823

 

Address: To/ The Right Honble/ C W Williams Wynn/ &c &c 
MS: National Library of Wales, MS 4813D. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.

Keswick. 14 Feby 1823
My dear Wynn

My brother Tom has come to the resolution of emigrating with a family which he has no prospect of providing for, & very inadequate means of supporting at home. He has eight children,

(1)

Margaret Hill Southey (b. 1811); Mary Hill Southey (b. 1812); Robert Castle Southey (1813–1828); Herbert Castle Southey (1815–1864); Eleanor Thomasina Southey (1816–1835); Sarah Louise Southey (1818–1850); Nelson Castle Southey (1820–1834); and Sophia Jane Southey (1822–1859). Thomas Castle Southey (1824–1896) completed the family.

& may very likely have as many more. If you can procure him a grant of lands in Canada, xxxxxxx it would be doing me a most essential act of kindness, in removing the heaviest cloud that hangs over my prospects. Possibly, if the plan which you sent me

(2)

Parliament had voted £30,000 in 1822 to finance the settlement of poor Irish families in Upper Canada. Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton (1784–1841; DNB), Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1821–1828, was eager to extend this idea and produced ‘An Outline of a Plan of Emigration to Upper Canada’ in January 1823. He proposed that parishes all over the United Kingdom should be able to mortgage their poor rates in order to repay loans from the government, which would finance sending the parishes’ paupers to Canada. Each family would receive 100 acres of land.

should take effect, some way might be found of employing him in it so as to facilitate his own removal & establishment.

This is a step which had I been in his place I should have taken long ago. His wife has xxx friends both at Quebec & Montreal,

(3)

Especially Matthew Bell (1769–1849), wealthy merchant, iron manufacturer and land speculator in Quebec, originally from Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was a relative of Sarah Southey. Despite this connection, Tom Southey decided not to emigrate to Canada.

& he knows quite enough of farming to xxx xxx fit him for the adventure. The family altogether are just the best kind of colonists who can be sent out, – as well as just the kind of persons for whom emigration is most desirable.

If you can assist me in this, I am sure you will -

God bless you
RS.

Notes

1. Margaret Hill Southey (b. 1811); Mary Hill Southey (b. 1812); Robert Castle Southey (1813–1828); Herbert Castle Southey (1815–1864); Eleanor Thomasina Southey (1816–1835); Sarah Louise Southey (1818–1850); Nelson Castle Southey (1820–1834); and Sophia Jane Southey (1822–1859). Thomas Castle Southey (1824–1896) completed the family.[back]
2. Parliament had voted £30,000 in 1822 to finance the settlement of poor Irish families in Upper Canada. Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton (1784–1841; DNB), Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1821–1828, was eager to extend this idea and produced ‘An Outline of a Plan of Emigration to Upper Canada’ in January 1823. He proposed that parishes all over the United Kingdom should be able to mortgage their poor rates in order to repay loans from the government, which would finance sending the parishes’ paupers to Canada. Each family would receive 100 acres of land.[back]
3. Especially Matthew Bell (1769–1849), wealthy merchant, iron manufacturer and land speculator in Quebec, originally from Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was a relative of Sarah Southey. Despite this connection, Tom Southey decided not to emigrate to Canada.[back]
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