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

Concerning plans for Minney's visit to Brighton; saying "I am quite happy at the thought of seeing you all but I must beg of you not to come till the day after the New Year as I have many weeks ago promis'd the King to dine with him on the 30th & New Years Day & I should be quite miserable to be absent from you when you arrive & you are well aware I cannot send an excuse to the Pavilion;" saying she is happy Minney has a tenant for her house, that she has seen Minney's brother Frederick frequently and that one of his servants had smallpox and Frederick was "...obliged to put him out of his House. I hope you will not neglect being vaccinated yourself - it is of most essential consequence;" discussing Lou's [Louisa Smythe] fiancé, Frederick Bathurst; saying "Frederick Bathurst was obliged to go to town being upon guard & told me he should call upon you but I dont think he will have Courage to do so, he returns here tomorrow to meet the whole of his family who with the Maryboroughs are to dine with me - Lou is completely happy & delighted & I am half in love with Fr. Bathhurst myself - I think him so good looking & so amiable - I wish he was not quite so shy but I hope he will upon better acquaintance get the better of that - I think dear Lou has a great prospect of Happiness of which she you know is so deserving - there are many reasons why I am pleas'd with this match - he is not what is call'd rich at present but all Lady Fremantle's property will come to him at her death;" discussing the rooms Minney & her family will occupy when they arrive and adding that the Smythe's "...will remain a short time longer - she cannot get Charles to pay her a farthing & really I dont know how they can exist - the girls have written to him to say his not paying any of them deprives them of the necessarys of Life - if he takes no notice they must some how or other adopt more violent measures for they cannot go on - he owes them now nearly two thousand £."