Abbotsbury <1>
My dearest Henry. –
I have not five minutes to express all that I have to say, & it is perhaps lucky for pages could not contain a description of all my Heart feels about you at this moment – how earnestly I pray that your choice may turn out a happy one that all those warm affectionate feelings you possess may meet, as I have no doubt they will, the return they deserve – If I were your Father, I could not be more anxious that all the good this world can afford shd fall to your lot – certainly I have always loved you as a son, & if the waywardness of my temper may occasionally have given you reason to think me unkind, from my Heart I pray your pardon & hope it will be attributed, to irritation arising from causes, of the extent of which you have no idea – & which if it does not justify may in some degree palliate my want of self Contro[l.]<2> She is a lucky woman who has obtained possession of your affections, & from all I have ever picked up about Miss Mundy <3> I have not the smallest doubt she is worthy of them – In short & to conclude I pray to God to make you as happy as your conduct through life to your Mother, sisters <4> & myself, makes me think you ought to be –
It is such a dreadful day I cannot go today to Dorchester – tomorrow the Magnet <5> does not travel – I cannot go by the Mail because as they cannot take me in in Sackville St <6> I shall go to the Burlington Hotel, <7> where no one will be awake & where you had better come also – on Monday therefore I shall be in Town by 8 oClock – & if you like to me to tell your Mother of your intentions – I can do so before you see her – or if you will wait my arrival then we can settle the matter & you or I can go first – as you like or if you have seen your Mother before I get to Town, you will leave word at the Hotel to follow you to Sackville St
God almighty bless you Yr affectionate
C. F.
Saturday
Notes:
1. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.
2. Written off the edge of page.
3. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
4. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother, Caroline Augusta Edgcumbe, née Feilding, Lady Mt Edgcumbe (1808–1881); WHFT’s half-sister and Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
5. Coach. [See Doc. No: 01737].
6. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT.
7. 31 Burlington Street, London home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.