Letter from Maria Fitzherbert, Brighton, to Mary Georgiana Dawson-Damer, 1831 November 20 : autograph manuscript signed with initials.

Addressing Minney's fears of cholera and discussing a possible Civil War; saying "Yr. letter which Munster sent me this morning has made me quite uncomfortable - yr fears respecting the cholera are quite unfounded, there is not as you well know a greater alarmist than I am & certainly when it was first announc'd I was horrified but I do assure you every one now is perfectly easy upon the Subject & you are only laugh'd at when you appear afraid of it - it has certainly caus'd much alarm & every precaution has been taken to prevent Infection - you must not mind what you read in the papers - The Board of Health having been establish'd in very Town is absurd - Lieven & Neumann both declare it confines itself strictly to the lower poor dirty class of people & Lieven says during the time it was so violent at Petersburg it was confin'd to the very lowest workers - I do assure you if there was the least danger we should know it here as we have accounts fresh every day - at present it is confin'd to Sunderland - The Londonderrys are within a few miles & have no fears nor has the infection extended itself out of the town, a most dirty filthy place - pray dearest make your mind quite easy upon this Subject for if there was the smallest apprehension of danger we here sh'd know it but as it is no one at present looks upon it more than a nine days wonder - I shall be delighted to have you here for as long a time as you can, but D. Minney the Idea that you are not able to live in London & mean to let yr House annoys me very much - you cannot exist in the open air & I dont see why if you w'd live quietly why yr. Income will not permit you to live in London - I am sure you are not an expensive person - the only drawback to my present comfort is the not being able to continue what was of use to you & the K. doing nothing for you - but he has no will or power - Lord G. governs every thing - I confess I am of Munster's opinion that a Civil War is near approaching - I think a revolution is very near at hand if not begun - He & his Father are upon as bad terms as ever - the story is too long for a letter - the K., he says, has broken his word & altho he gave him ten thousand a month ago for his Eldest Son he has not given him any thing for the support of the Peerage - George is dreadfully Violent & I am very sorry he is not upon terms with his father but it is quite impossible - I have done every thing I can to persuade him to be quiet but I have no Interest in either party - the Q. has been very ill & has been confin'd to her room for the last fortnight - today she dines with us for the first time & there are six & thirty at dinner - Lord Brougham, one of the party - Tallyrand & Mme. Dino din'd yesterday forty in number so what you have heard of his not being allow'd to give dinners is not true - The King is order'd up to London tomorrow to arrange something the Ministers want to do;" relating news of family.