Madam,

It is in consequence of the conversation I had yesterday with one of the sisters of your establishment that I take the liberty of addressing these lines to you. The matter concerns the placing, as boarders, of three little girls, Eugénie Dupont (9 years), Marie D. (7 years) and Clarisse D. (3 years). Their father works as a foreman in the musical instrument factory of Mr Joseph Higham in Manchester; their mother has been dead about 18 months, Mr Dupont finds that it is not possible for him to bring up his children at home in a satisfactory manner and has charged me to seek a suitable placement for them. The children are Catholics. The lady who received me yesterday informed me that there would be room with you for the little girls and that the boarding fee would be £13 per child for the first year and £12 for the following years; she then urged me to write to you, communicating in writing what I desired. I pray you therefore, Madam, to be so good as to inform me whether you would consent to receive them at your convent; in that case, I should advise their father to come to London without delay and present them to you. If by chance you should require any further information, I would request you to let me know at what hour I might come to give it to you. It was Mr Clarkson, of Maitland Park, who gave me the address of your establishment and engaged me [...]

Accept, Madam, the assurance of my profound respect,
F. E.