Autograph letter : "Strawb[erry Hill" London], to Mary and Agnes Berry, [1790] Dec. 17.
Numbered "No. 12" [of the series of letters addressed to the Berrys abroad].
Address panel with seal and addressed "To Miss Mary and Miss Agnes Berry at Florence or Pisa." There is no postmark because the letter was enclosed in Lord Hervey's packet of 21 December.--Cf. Lewis and Wallace, p. 161 n.
Part of a collection of letters from Horace Walpole to Mary and Agnes Berry. Items in the collection have been described individually; see related collection-level record for more information. See also MA 495 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1791-1793); MA 496 (Letters from Walpole to the Misses Berry, 1794-1796, and letters from the Misses Berry to Walpole); and MA 497 (letters to various persons and miscellaneous writings).
Concerning the loss of his letters; noting that a packet sunk the previous day and that if they had written as promised, the letter is probably lost. Repeating information he has shared in previous letters, since he does not know if or when the Berrys will receive them: noting that their house is let, that Mr. Berry's horse is sold, and the Cliveden is secured for them. Mentioning parliamentary and peerage news, referring to the Warren Hastings trial. Giving Mrs. Damer's direction in Lisbon. Listing recent engagements and mentioning mutual acquaintances at Richmond. Imploring them to return to England by the end of September through Flanders, rather than through France, citing an anecdote of recent violence. Continuing the letter on Saturday night: supposing that her most recent letter was lost; mentioning that Lady Douglas is dangerously ill after [delivering her second child]; noting that he addresses this letter to both Mary and Agnes as his letter to Agnes has been lost.