Autograph Letter signed ("MR Mitford") to Mrs. [John] Hughes, of Donnington Priory, Berkshire, thanking her and Mr. Hughes for their kindness to her father

Three Miles Cross [Berkshire, England], 1840. 3pp. in ink, on single folded sheet. 1 vols. 12mo. Mounted to larger sheet. 3pp. in ink, on single folded sheet. 1 vols. 12mo. A hearfelt and touching letter to the mother of the author of TOM JONES SCHOOL DAYS, thanking her and Mr. Hughes for their kindness to her father. George Mitford was a profligate gambler whose habits had reduced his family to poverty. According to the DNB, the elder Mitford's many failings "never succeeded in alienating the affections of his wife and daughter." Her love for her father could hardly be better illustrated than in this touching letter to her friends, John and Margaret (truncated) Hughes:

"I cannot help writing to thank you & Mr. Hughes over & over again for your great goodness & kindness to my dear father. He has talked of little but Donnington and its inhabitants since his return - I have no words to tell you how strongly I feel your affection to him . At all times kindness to my father goes much more surely to my heart than kindness to myself -- but just now when I hear talk of alarm for his health it was an inexpressible comfort ... (Inventory #: 217142)