Letter from William James Herschel, Midnapore [Medinipur], to 'Dearest Mother' [Margaret Brodie Herschel] An account of the birth of Emma and William's first child [Margaret Eliza Emma Herschel] watched over by the doctor 'a very quiet sensible man'. Emma received chloroform towards the end of the labour and William relays her half-unconscious words in Hindustani about the baby. She had reason to expect the worst, but the doctor now thinks there is nothing further to worry about regarding their daughter. In a postscript William writes: 'This you will see is a copy', noting where others have been sent. 9 March 1865