My dear Henry
Pray be quick and answer Horatia’s <1> letter yesterday was her birthday. Pray did you keep it? Did you get on the top of the House to see us? Mr Smith made us each a kite and Theresa <2> has one too, she is a pretty little thing. the Framptons <3> are coming here on Tuesday and Grandmama and Julia <4> to day. Aunt Ilchester <5> begged that I might keep my birthday here before it comes because <6> we shall go to London when it comes.
Papa <7> desired me to give his best love to you, and to tell you to direct your letters to Sackville Street. <8> I send you six kisses.
Melbury <9> is in its beauty.
Don’t be so long before you answer this letter as the last
I am your very affectionate Sister
Caroline Augusta Feilding
Adieu
Notes:
1. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.
2. Theresa Anna Maria Digby, née Fox Strangways (1814–1874), WHFT’s cousin.
3. Lady Harriet Frampton, née Fox Strangways (d. 1844) and her husband James Frampton (1769–1855), High Sheriff.
4. Juliana Maria Strangways, née Digby (d. 1842), and probably her daughter Julia Strangways.
5. Caroline Leonora Fox Strangways, née Murray, Countess of Ilchester (1788–1819).
6. Changed from ‘bef’.
7. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
8. 31 Sackville Street, London residence of the Feildings, often used as a London base by WHFT
9. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there