My dearest Henry
I cannot let your 21st Birthday go by without telling you how truly & warmly I pray that your days may be long & happy, & hoping that when the common destiny of our nature has separated us, you will still think with affectionate remembrance of one who has loved you as if you had been his own son –
It was always my intention to have written you a few words of advice at this moment of your life; but really you do not want it, for all I could do would only be to desire you to go on as you have begun –
Continue to cherish your Mother <1> – to Love your sisters <2> – to walk uprightly & independantly [sic], to employ those Talents with which God has [illegible deletion] Endowed you – & then whatever mischances may befall you in this world of [illegible] you will always have the blessing of a quiet conscience here & the prospect of the reward of an honest life hereafter –
May Heaven Bless you –
C.F.
11 Feby 1821
Notes:
1. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
2. 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.