This letter was written by Henry Fielding (1707 - 1754), an English writer and magistrate known for his humor and satire. He wrote The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, and along with Samuel Richardson, he was considered the founder of the traditional English novel. Fielding was appointed justice of the peace in 1748 and became a court magistrate for Westminster and Middlesex along the way, and he established London’s police force at a time when the city was infested with crime; his appointment to magistrate was part of an effort to restore law and order to the city.  

The letter is undated, but it probably was written between 1748 and 1754, when Fielding served as justice of the peace and court magistrate. The letter reads “For whatever has past your Judgement may I think without any Imputation of [Immodesty] refer Want of Success to Want of Judgment in an Audience. I Shall do myself the Honour of waiting on your Ladyship   at Twickenham next Monday to receive my Sentence and am Madam with the most devoted Respect your Ladyship, most Obedient most humble Servant Henry Fielding”. 

Twickenham is a suburb of London near the Thames, just south of Charing Cross, and it sounds like a woman of means or nobility was going to receive a sentence of jail time for something she had done, and we believe that is a fair reading of the letter, especially in light of Fielding’s position as court magistrate. His residence on Bow Street in London was also his own courthouse. 

The letter is handwritten by Fielding and the black frame measures 9 1/8 x 10 1/2 inches wide,
the letter measures 6 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches high, and it is already wired on the back, so it’s ready to hang, and the letter and frame are in very good condition. There are no condition issues, as far as we can tell, and an interesting document by an interesting writer and court person of the 18th century. 

Henry Fielding (1707–1754) was an influential English novelist, playwright, and magistrate, widely regarded as a pioneer of the modern novel. Born in Somerset, England, he studied law at the University of Leiden but turned to writing to support himself. Fielding gained early recognition as a playwright, often using satire to critique political corruption, though his works were curtailed by the Licensing Act of 1737. He then turned to prose, producing some of the greatest works of 18th-century literature, including Joseph Andrews (1742) and Tom Jones (1749), celebrated for their humor, vivid characters, and social commentary. Later in life, Fielding became a magistrate and helped reform London's justice system, co-founding the Bow Street Runners, an early police force. His literary and civic contributions solidified his legacy as a key figure of the Enlightenment era.

Overall Size: 9 1/8 x 10 1/2 in.
Sight Size: 5 1/8 x 7 in.
#4657