[The original of this letter cannot be located at this time. The citation and transcription below (but not the notes) are from Jeffery W. Vail, The Unpublished Letters of Thomas Moore, Volume 2, Letters 1827-1847 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2013), Letter 1153. The Rice Collection contains numerous uncatalogued copies from other collections and it is possible that the original letter is elsewhere.]
Sloperton, March 16th 1836.
My dear Talbot - I should grieve at any thing that gave Mrs Talbot grief,<1> but this is indeed a loss that all who have had kind mothers and loved them deeply (which has been my own case) must sympathize with most sincerely. Pray tell her that Mrs Moore too feels most warmly for her loss.
My note to Lord John, inclosing your letter, was curiously enough refused at his door (seeing a poet's hand-writing, as I have just told him, they took it for a begging letter) and was returned to me by the Post-Office.<2> One of the Letter-Carriers, too, whose names were signed (as witness to a brother's disgrace) was "Milton."
Ever yours most truly
Thomas Moore
Notes:
1. Sarah Leaper Mundy, née Newton, had passed away on 10 March.
2. Lord John Russell (1792–1878), politician. See Doc. No: 03220