These letters written from the Dowager Countess Spencer to her grandson William Spencer Cavendish cover the first few years after he had become the 6th Duke of Devonshire. She writes concerning the death of the 6th Duke's father and how her sister had taken it and coming to be with the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire (Elizabeth Cavendish). She calls the 6th Duke "my Dear H" and then "my Dear D".
She writes to her grandson of: the duty he has performed to the memory of his dead father; her own routine at home; her feelings of being hypocritical in her teaching; he and his sisters' duty to set an example; Harriet looking unwell; her wish that Harriet would stay but her happiness at her attachment to Lord Gr; the 6th Duke's drafting of a will; her gladness that the 6th Duke is going to church despite the difficulty posed by his deafness; her harvest; her warning about not being duped by an artful woman [the Dowager Duchess in relation to her jointure?]; her servant Jenny's illness; a description of her visit to the Isle of Wight; Frederick Ponsonby's good care of his wife Lady Bessborough; Lord Bessborough's business in the Army under Lord Wellington; the 6th Duke's arrival at his sister's home; her pleasure at receiving his letters; God's view of him as a sincere Christian; her love for the country over town; a visit to Fox Townsend with Sophie Martin; foreign affairs in the newspapers; writing out her catalogue of books; her son visiting after hunting; cream and butter from Chiswick; the death of Lord Cremorne; her enquiry if he knows of the famous American boy with extraordinary powers of calculation for his age; Dr Andrews' sermon; the Lytteltons at Wimbledon Park; the death of Mrs Harris; the 6th Duke's proposal for "Prudy"; information about Mrs Delamaine and; news of the Spencers.
There is also a letter addressed to "Dear Anna" in which she writes to Lady Jones that Lady Spencer has consented to Lady Georgiana Spencer's marriage with Lord George Guin (CS1/615/420).