Letter from Maria Tunno, Taplow, to Charlotte Sarah Raikes, 1823 January 20 : autograph manuscript signed.

Writing to Charlotte with concerns about her Mr. Raikes' health and recovery, and lamenting that she was unable to write to her earlier due to her health issues; she was suffering from inflammation of the mouth and throat, which made her susceptible to catching a cold, and she was seized with a severe attack of quinsy and fever; describing how she defied medical aid, and instead "administered barley water and patience without any other prescription than that given by common sense", and she is feeling better now, though she briefly experienced starvation after being unable to swallow; hoping to go in to the Drawing Room tomorrow, and feeling that if she had to choose a time to be confined to the house, now is as good a time as any, as the weather would have probably imprisoned her anyhow; asking Charlotte how she and her party have been enduring the weather, particularly her father; expressing delight at the green shoots that are beginning to rise despite the snow; she and her sister Harriet are wondering how things are going in the Metropolis; wondering if people dance, dine, and go out despite the weather; expressing that she can't imagine leaving the fireside with the thermometer where it is, but could have done it in the past; longing to make a trip to London to see the boys during their vacation, but finding herself unable to "sally forth" due to the weather; describing the house as a "perfect Monastery," which is delightful to Augusta especially; Edward is still in Paris, having waited for the opening of the Chambers, but he promises to be in Taplow next week; she is looking forward to seeing him, and describing the "bachelor's box" that he will live in; passing along Augusta's thanks to Caroline for her letter; hoping that Anna is improving; asking her what she has been reading. Postscript describing the sweet spring air and her feeling that she is no longer an "invalid", and she intends to walk outside again in a day or two.