4168. Robert Southey to Susannah Rickman, 7 April [1824]

 

Address: To/ Mrs Rickman
Endorsement: R Southey to SR 
MS: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wilson Library, James Saxon Childers Papers. ALS; 3p.
Unpublished.
Dating note: The year is derived from the content; see Southey to Susannah Rickman, 12 April 1824, Letter 4172.

My dear Madam

One of those mishaps has occurred concerning Berthas journey which are always likely when in complicated affairs. The Lady

(1)

Mary Tolson (dates unknown). She was from a Cumberland family and had set up business in High Holborn, London, as a ‘linen-draper, dealer and chapwoman’. Declared bankrupt on 8 July 1826, she started a new business in Regent Street as a ‘milliner and dress maker’ only to go bankrupt again on 16 May 1828.

who was to take charge of her as this day, had an Aunt;

(2)

Unidentified.

& that Aunt died the other day; so that her departure was <is> put off till Monday next. At any other time such a delay would have been of no consequence whatever: but falling as it does in the Passion Week,

(3)

The week leading up to Easter Sunday; in 1824 this was 11–18 April.

by a curious infelicity of circumstances every person who could have received Bertha on her arrival, is likely to be out of town. There was a forlorn hope of obtaining convoy for her tomorrow but it has failed. And now, unless we should hear from Edith that she has devised something, – the expedition must of necessity be postponed till another opportunity can be found.

The only consolation for this is that she would not have been in the best condition for undertaking such a journey to day; having hardly recovered from a very prevalent catarrh which, I am sorry to say, has taken me by the nose also.

With kindest remembrances from Mrs S. who has allowed me to write for her while she is occupied with a guest –

I remain
Dear Madam
Yrs most truly
Robert Southey

Wednesday 7 April.

Notes

1. Mary Tolson (dates unknown). She was from a Cumberland family and had set up business in High Holborn, London, as a ‘linen-draper, dealer and chapwoman’. Declared bankrupt on 8 July 1826, she started a new business in Regent Street as a ‘milliner and dress maker’ only to go bankrupt again on 16 May 1828.[back]
2. Unidentified.[back]
3. The week leading up to Easter Sunday; in 1824 this was 11–18 April.[back]
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