features, and the rising joy was damped. Your mother, however, very kindly invited us in, and gave us all the good things she had that could administer to our immediate pleasures. The expectations which Major H. had raised by his description of your mother was not entirely answered. She was neither so alert, so commanding, nor so animated as he and Anne had described; but as they both are apt to deal in the superlative, I make some deductions from their previous description and after remarks, according to which she is very rapidly on the decline. Having quitted her farming business, I have no doubt myself but that her faculties will be impaired much faster than they would have been had she continued to exert them; yet I strongly doubt of the very rapid decline which the Major supposes. Her memory is good, her conceptions, speaking comparatively, are clear, and her strength considerable.

"I have seen more of the County of Norfolk than of its inhabitants; of which county I remark that to the best of my recollection it contains more flint, more turkies, more turnips, more wheat, more cultivation, more commons, more cross-roads, and, from that token, probably more inhabitants, than any county I ever visited. It has another distinguishing and paradoxical feature, if what I hear be true. It is said to be more illiterate than other parts of England, and yet I doubt if any county of like extent have produced an equal number of famous men. This, however, is merely a conjecture, made not from examination, but from memory.

"As it is necessary for me to bathe, I shall immediately depart for Yarmouth, and pass through Norwich, which I have not yet seen. If you or Mrs Godwin, or both, can but prevail on yourself or selves to endure the fatigue of writing to me, I hope I need not use many words to convince you of the pleasure it will give me. And be it understood that this letter is addressed to you both, whatever the direction on the back may affirm to the contrary. Professions are almost impertinent, and yet I am almost tempted to profess to you how sincerely and seriously I am interested in your happiness. But as I am sure my words would ill describe my thoughts, I shall forbear. Pray inform me,

LETTER FROM HOLCROFT.

271

sweet lady, in what state is your novel? And on what, courteous sir, are you employed? Though I am idle myself, I cannot endure that any one else should be so. Direct to me at the postoffice, Yarmouth. Pray do me the favour to call occasionally and look into the house and library.

"T. HOLCROFT."

CHAPTER X.

MARY GODWIN'S DEATH. 1797.

MARY Godwin had been in remarkably good health during the whole period of her pregnancy. It will have been seen in the correspondence that she consulted Dr Carlisle during this time, but not for any serious indisposition. She had no alarm or even uneasiness on the subject of her approaching trial, since she had suffered but little at the birth of Fanny, and had conceived the idea that women in general made far too much of the difficulties and inconveniences of child-bearing. She had a strong opinion that in all normal and natural cases women were the proper persons to attend their own sex, and therefore engaged Mrs Blenkinsop, matron and midwife to the Westminster Lying-In Hospital to be with her. When Mrs Blenkinsop arrived, soon after Mary Godwin was taken in labour on Wednesday, August 30, all seemed well. She had wished that Godwin should not be in the house, and the notes that follow, written to him during her labour, have probably but few parallels.

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin to W. Godwin.

"Aug. 30, 1797.

"I have no doubt of seeing the animal to-day; but must wait for Mrs Blenkinsop to guess at the hour. I have sent for her. Pray send me the newspaper. I wish I had a novel or some book

of sheer amusement to excite curiosity and while away the time. Have you anything of the kind?

The Same to the Same.

"Aug. 30, 1797.

"Mrs Blenkinsop tells me that everything is in a fair way, and that there is no fear of the event being put off till another day. Still at present she thinks I shall not immediately be freed from my load. I am very well. Call before dinner time, unless you receive another message from me."

The Same to the Same.

"Three o'clock, Aug. 30, 1797.

"Mrs Blenkinsop tells me I am in the most natural state, and can promise me a safe delivery, but that I must have a little patience."

The child, not the William so anxiously expected, but Mary, afterwards Mrs Shelley, was born at twenty minutes past eleven, and for some hours all seemed well. But some circumstances then alarmed the midwife, and Dr Poignard, physician and accoucheur to the same hospital, was called in. He did what was deemed necessary, and the danger, which was extreme till about eight the next morning, then appeared at an end. Godwin called in Dr Fordyce, a very old friend of his wife, who confirmed Dr Poignard's opinion that the patient was doing well; indeed, he quoted Mrs Godwin's case the same day "in corroboration of a favourite idea of his, of the propriety of employing females in the capacity of midwives. Mary had had a woman, and was doing extremely well." On Sunday, however, a very alarming change took place, and after a week

of terror, alternating with some gleams of hope, she sunk and died on the following Sunday morning, September 10, at twenty minutes before eight.

All that medical skill could do was done in the case. Dr Fordyce and Dr Clarke were constant in their attendance, and Mr, afterwards Sir Anthony, Carlisle never left the house from Wednesday, Sept. 6th, till the time of the patient's death. Mr Basil Montagu was constantly with Godwin, and was full of kindness and sympathy. Through the whole time Godwin tells us "nothing could exceed the equanimity, the patience, and affectionateness of the poor sufferer."

Godwin's diary during these days is very curious. All that he felt most deeply is recorded in his usual businesslike way; the hand-writing never falters, the same precise abbreviations and stops are used, till the last, when occur the only lines and dashes which break the exceeding neatness of the book. It is as follows:

"Aug. 30, IV.-Mary' p. 116. Fell and Dyson call: dine at Reveley's: Fenwicks and M. sup: Blenkinsop.

Birth of Mary, 20 minutes after 11 at night. From 7 to 10, Evesham Buildings." [This refers to a change of lodgings.]

31, Th.-Fetch Dr Poignard: Fordyce calls: in the evening Miss G. and L. J. M. Reveley and Tuthil: J. G. calls.

1, F-Call on Robinson, Nicholson, Carlisle, and M. Hays: Johnson calls: favourable appearances. 2, Sa.-Carlisle, Montagu, Tuthil, and M. Reveley call: worse in the evening. Nurse.

3, Su.-Montagu breakfasts: call with him on Wolcot, Opie, Laurence and Dr Thompson. Shivering fits: Fordyce twice. Poignard, Blenkinsop and nurse.