[includes an appended note spilling over to the address panel, written in French, from his half-sister, Horatia, to her father, Charles Feilding]<1>
Paris,
Monday Febry 7th 1825
My Dear Mr Feilding,
I arrived here this morning at 7 o’clock and found them all very well. I am rather tired with having spent three nights in The coach and malleposte. <2> I think Horatia <3> is grown since I saw her, I have been taking a walk with her in the Thuilleries <4> accompanied by Morphine <5> who was the terror of the swans – I had 2 companions in the malleposte, one a nondescript speaking both French & English so well that I enquired where he had spent his life. “Dans l’interieur du Brésil” <6> said he. The other was an Englishman – I said to him “Is this your first visit to Englan France?” Yes says he. “How far are you going?” – To Persia. I think, says I, you will find that a long way “Oh I know how far it is, for I have been there before” – Pray do not forget to enquire at Dessin’s Hotelfor the parcel, which is directed to you.
Yrs affly
H. T.
Notes:
1. Cher petit Papa Je ne t’écris pas une longue lettre parce que j’espère te revoir sitôt, et qu’il est même douteux que tu reçoive celle-ci. Henri est arrivé ce matin à notre grande joie, car nous l’attendions en vain depuis plusieurs jours. – Nous avons été Jeudi dernier voir Mosè in Egitto, c’était magnifique, et Mercredi au grand Opéra voir Cendrillon qui nous a fait infiniment du plaisir. Adieu, cher innocent petit Papa, j’espère que tu feras bon voyage et arriveras bientôt. Ta fille soumise et affectionée Horatie. P.S. Nous nous portons bien ainsi que Morphine. Caroline et Amandierte font leurs amitiés.– On vous prie de vouloir bien remettre cette lettre à Monsieur le Capitaine Feilding de la Marine Royale Anglaise lorsqu’il se presentera à la Douane. [translation:] Dear little Papa I am not writing you a long letter because I hope to see you soon, and because it's doubtful that you'll even receive this one. Henry arrived this morning to our great joy, since we'd been expecting him in vain for several days. Last Thursday we went to see Moses in Egypt, which was magnificent, and on Wednesday to the Grand Opera to see Cinderella which gave us infinite pleasure. Goodbye, dear innocent little Papa, I hope you'll have a good journey and get here soon. Your obedient and affectionate Horatia P.S. We are all well and so is Morphine. Caroline and Amandier send you their kind regards. You are requested to be so kind as to give this letter to Captain Feilding of the English Royal Navy when he presents himself at the Customs.
2. Mail coach.
3. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
4. French Palais Des Tuileries (originally Thuilleries) French royal residence adjacent to the Louvre in Paris before it was destroyed by arson in 1871.
5. The family's dog, found by them on 20 December 1823 as a stray in the Piazza di Fontana Amorosa in Genoa.
6. In the interior of Brazil. ‘Interieur’ could also imply that he was in Brazil in a official government capacity.