KENT, Edward Augustus, Duke of (1767-1820). Father of Queen Victoria.
Two fine long Letters Signed to Mrs Fielding, 11 pages 8vo, Kensington Palace, 20 and 25 May 1819. The first letter written four days before, and the second one day after, the birth of the Duke of Kent's only daughter, the future Queen Victoria.

'... I must ... thank you ... for your kind congratulations upon that event, which, under the blessing of Providence, took place yesterday morning under circumstances still more favourable than I had cared to look forward to, both mother and child being as well as possible, and the former having borne 30 hours of unspeakable uneasiness, and six of labour, with a patience, that would do honor to any Christian and Courage such as becomes the wife of a soldier. ... I never allowed myself the wish for a boy, in preference to a Girl and therefore the infant being of the latter sex, was no disappointment to me ...'

The future Queen Victoria was born only fifth in line to the throne. Her father, the fourth son of George III, had abandonded his long-time mistress, Julia de St Laurent, in 1818 in order to join with his brothers in an attempt to provide a (male) heir. Although there are occasional suggestions that Victoria was not in fact his daughter, the tone of these letters suggests not only a properly paternal attitute to the child (and genuine concern for his wife) but a certain insouciance in view of her sex.
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