MS: British Library, Add MS 47888. ALS; 1p. 
Unpublished.
Dating note: According to his letter to Nicholas Lightfoot, 22 December 1823 (Letter 4104), Southey had booked a place in a coach which would leave London on Friday 2 January 1824. It seems likely that Southey’s request for a letter from Edith May to Lightfoot, to be ready for ‘Friday next’, refers to a letter Southey would carry with him. That being so, this letter dates from the final week of December 1823.

In case you should not call here this morning, I inclose 5 £ for you.

I have written to Longman desiring the books may, if possible, be sent to you on Wednesday.

Let me have a letter from you directed to the Rev^d. N. Lightfoots, Crediton, Devonshire. It must not be written later than Friday next. And I wish you would write to Miss Bowles & tell her that if coaches do not fail me I intend to be with her on Saturday the 17^th.

God bless you my dear EMay
RS.

– I having seen John L. & his father having seen you, every thing may of course be settled at Crediton without any farther preliminaries.