“My dear Wm.—I’m a poor letter writer at best, but now
worse than ever. After thanking yo. for yr. genteel present of the Memoirs of yr.
wife. Excuse me saying Providence certainly knows best, the fountain of wisdom
cannot err. He that gave life can take it away, and none can hinder, and tho we
see not his reasons now, we shall see them hereafter. I hope yo. are taught by reflection your mistake concerning marriage, there
might have been two children that had no lawful wright to anything yt. was their fathers, with a thousand other bad
consequences, children and wives crying about ye streets without a protector.
You wish, I dare say, to keep yr. own oppinion,
therefore I shall say no more but wish you and dear babes happy. Dose little
Mary thrive? or she weaned? You will
follow your wives direction, give them a good deal of air, and have a good
oppertunity, as yo. live out of ye. Smoke of the city. You will be kind enough to let yr. Sister
know Mr and Mrs G.
and self wish to know if she recd. a box with eggs
whole, they were all new, and sundry trifels I sent her, with a new piece of
print for my grand-daughter Mary for a gown, with 2/6 to
pay for the making, a pr. little
| 326 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“By seling a little Timber, and frugality in my
expences, hope to be able a little after Mic[haelmas] to help you and the rest
to £10 a-piece, taking yr. notes for it, perhaps will just keep their heads
above water. I wd. reserve somthing to keep yr. S. from starving, but yt.
will be difficult. If I leave her a place for her life, and she be deep in
debt, and have interest to pay, she will be nothing ye.
better. I wish you to write very soon by post with your opinion of the matter,
and also how Joe conducts himself
towards his wife and family. I sent Mary
a pritty mourning ring with an emethist and 2 sparks in it; do you ask to see
it, also a box for it; hope she will not loose it. Would not wish yo. to declare the contents of my letter: my best wishes
attend you and yours. Yr. Bro. Hull and wife and Natt join me in the same, Mrs G. is in ye
increesing way; their eldest has got the measels
| A MOTHER’S ANXIETIES. | 327 |
“I wish you woud let me know if there is any better way of directing letters or parcels, are they no more than letters to London when directed to Somers Town.
“What I send Han wou’d be glad yo. to be her director what use to make of it. She has told me some former letters she was affraid she sh’d be put to trouble, and often exprest yo. have been a father to her, but it stands yo. in hand to take care of yourself; an aspiring temper will be beat down, while the humble shall be exalted.”
