Letter from Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, London, to Maria Fitzherbert, 1809 January 26 : manuscript signed.

Expressing his gratitude for her "...most affectionate remembrance of me...I have indeed been very ill from the 12th, from a most violent cough attended with fever, pain in the chest, head and limbs, which has kept me close prisoner at home, till now, and I fear is likely to do so, for some time longer, as, altho' I trust the worst is over, my cough is still too violent, and chest too [illegible] to risk going abroad : but as the Frost is, thank God, going, I hope we may look forward, for some fine mild weather, and then, if I can get on horseback, I shall soon be well again. As you don't mention your own health, I hope, and trust I may conclude you have escaped suffering by the long continuance of severe weather. That you should not yet have thought of leaving Brighton, I am not at all surprized, as it must be a great object to you, to shorten, if not altogether to cut off, the London Winter, while you have so fresh in your recollection all you experienced, from various causes, during the two preceding ones. However whenever you do determine upon coming up, I hope you will have the goodness to apprize me of it, that I may avail myself of he earliest opportunity of seeing you, after your arrival as no one can feel more warmly interested about you than I do, who have ever experienced so many proofs of your friendship, and attachment for me upon every occasion;" adding, in a postscript, "I know you will be sorry to hear that M'e D. St. L---t has been confined to her room for six weeks with one of these violent coughs, and rheumatic cold, so that the House is quite a hospital. .