Caroline Tufton (Barham) to Martha Jefferson (Randolph)
| My dear Miss Jefferson | Wednesday Hothfield September 2nd 89 |
[. . .] It is impossible for me to discribe, how happy I feel at hearing from you, and what ever pleasure I have felt at seeing my friends in England, it has not been equal to the pain of a seperation from you, which if not eternal, is so distant, as to afford me very little hope, but I will no longer continue a subject, the thoughts of which me rends toujours triste—We have been in the Country with my brothers for this week past, we have had delightful weather. we ride on horse back almost every day, I am in hopes the Duke will be with us the end of this week, he has been at Weymouth to see the King. We shall perhaps go soon into Staffordshire, which I shall be glad of, for when my brothers holidays are over, it will be dull here, having no champs elysees to walk in, if we had as you are not with us, they would soon lose their charms—Mrs Hume who is here is just a Mrs Roberts in young, being much fatter, but she can walk about a great deal. I heard from Mrs R— the other day she has not yet left Lady Radnor. Pray give my love to Botidoux, and tell her when she is married, I hope she will not forget her promise of coming to England to pay us a visit, and bring her dear Monsieur Boident with her: pray do not mention Tom again for I am quite provoked with him for his forgetfulness, I can never forgive him, I am rejoiced the congé did not arrive before we left Paris, for I should have been in constant fear of your departure, but when you go to America, I shall equally lament your loss, for being at so much further distance, will appear to me, as a fresh seperation. Mr Stone was unfortunate enough to arrive at Bologne in the middle of the night, so he had not the satisfaction of even having a glimpse of our chere amie Charlotte. I have no patience with our English friends walking continually in the champs elysees, I think they must be quite stupid. Elizabeth joins with me in love to you, she hopes you have received her letter about the canes. I am obliged to direct this letter under cover to Tom, as the Duke is not in London, when I heard from him he said he hoped I gave his love to his iter cousin when I wrote to you—pray write soon, and believe me my dearest Miss Jefferson most Affectionately yrs