Caroline Tufton (Barham) to Martha Jefferson (Randolph)
| My dear Miss Jefferson | Trentham September the 24th 89 |
I have this moment received your letter and take the first opportunity of thanking you for it, and am afraid you will still be set out before this reaches you, you cannot imagine how sincerely we all lament your departure to America, for my part it seems as a fresh seperation, for while you were at Paris, though I could not see you, yet I could think of you with pleasure, but when once you are gone to America, I have no distant hope of our meeting, and though I cannot hear from you so often, pray write whenever you can. We left Hothfield about ten days, to come here to Lord Stafford’s, he is our great uncle, Lord Gower and Lady Sutherland whom you have seen at Paris are here, she inquired after you, this place is quite delightful, there is a most beautiful park and garden, it is about an hundred and fifty miles from London, we ride or drive in phaetons every morning; Lady Stafford has three daughters, who are very pleasant girls; we shall return to Hothfield in about a week, to remain there, till we go to Town for the winter—I hear that Madame Sangerson and Balleroi are come to Paris; it is incredible the number of French that are come to England. The Duke desires me to tell you that the news of your departure il rends tout triste. Elizabeth joins with me in love to you—the Post is just going out prevents my writing any more; I shall conclude with my hoping to hear of your safe arrival in America, which is the sincere wish of my dearest Miss Jefferson your most affectionate friend—