Single Letter

HAM/1/2/27

Journal-letter from John Dickenson to Mary Hamilton

Diplomatic Text


14

      4 August 1789 Bath
I sent you a Letter yesterday & informed you that I was going to
Mrs. Hartleys. at 7 I called to drink Tea with Mrs. Rundell, but she was
not returned from some country expedition -- & I found an excuse, &
went on to Mrs. H. where I found a Mrs. Campbell & her young Ladies
who sang a very pretty duet -- one of them played a very difficult Concerto
on the Harpsichord with very great execution -- I don't know whether
my Taste is improved or vitiated but I must confeʃs that what is
called a Harpsichord Leʃson does not gratify me at all -- I have
taken a dislike to the instrument -- & what is commonly called fine
playing, is to me, an expeditious jumbling of Keys -- Mrs. Holroyd
& Miʃs Wilberforce came in for half an hour -- Mrs. H. told me that Miʃs
W.
was going the next day to Cowslip Green -- the company went
away before ten & Mrs. H.y—— desired me to stay supper -- in five minutes
a meʃsage came from the Rundells with an invitation to supper wch. I
declined of course -- I staid with Mrs. Hartley till near eleven & then
called at the Rundells & staid with them till 12 --
As no Letters arrived yesterday from my dearest Mary I was in
great doubts what to do, as I knew not what construction might
be put upon my letter which gave you an Acct. of the inflamma
tion
in my Leg &c -- and as you talked of coming to me, I began
to think that might fix your resolution -- however as the
weather seemed so fine I thought it better not to defer my jour-
ney
or rather little tour any longer, as I shd. be at no short distance
from Bath; accordingly this morning at 8 oClock Set out for Bristol
and called upon Miʃs Mores -- when they told me I had chosen an un-
lucky
time as Hannah was going from home, but when I mentioned
Miʃs Wilberforce's intention of going to Cowslip Green, they said, She
must be informed of it & preʃsed me to go on which I then did not in-
tend
to do -- I saw the two eldest only, Patty was engaged in the School
I staid about 20 minutes & went to the wells -- Dr. Stonhouse seemed
very glad to see me, poor Creature he has suffered excruciating pain
lately in having a carbuncle taken off his head, which mortified
he never closed his Eyes for ten days & nights -- in the last 48 hours
he has had a little sleep & as he cannot take any medicine for his
old malady the stone now, he is afraid that it may gain too great
a head -- he complains that he is obliged to take a pint of Madeira every
day which confuses him -- he spoke with great affection of his wife &
regard for you -- I desired that I would tell you how happy it made him to see me
so much improved in my Looks, which he said were 500 Pr. Cent better than
when he saw me 2 years ago. I staid an hour with him, he spoke of a
publication of Mr. Hawkins Brownes,[1] which he thought the best
thing that has been wrote in our Language for some time -- the Subject
is the negligence of the Clergy -- I went from him to Miʃs Milnes
& had the pleasure of hearing that the old Lady was better -- She gave
me a long Acct. of the distreʃs she had been in & of her Mother's illness wch.
proved at last to be a Bilious Fever -- I staid with her about half an
hour & went on to Cowslip Green -- I was charmed with the
view of Clifton from an opposite hill, on the Exeter road, which



commands a short view of the river, the rocks, the scattered houses on
Clifton, part of Bristol & the adjacent country all round -- I had a most cor-
dial
reception from Hannah More & Patty who was arrived here before
me -- This little Cottage is exactly what I expected to find -- very neat
prettily furnished &c the rooms small -- the little pleasure ground very
well planted with shrubs, & an exceʃsive pretty Roothouse about 50
yards from the house where they generally breakfast & drink tea
it has no pretensions & is exactly what you & I shall like to have
in our grove, as it can be made at very little expence -- I made a
Sketch of it & the house -- We waited dinner an hour for Miʃs Wilber-
force
but She did not come to day -- I found Hannah very low She
attributed it to a disagreeable Accident that had happened which
had damped all their summer enjoyment, as there is only one
month that the Sisters can live together here -- a Lady who came
to pay them a first visit was overturned out of a Phaeton (luckily
by her Husband) into a little rivulet near the house; she was
nearly suffocated by the Mud & her back was so much injured
that she could not be turned in bed for 3 weeks -- She was brought to
Miʃs Mores, apparently dead, & was taken away upon a litter -- this
was a terrible thing upon the Sisters, as they have only one spare
bed, & they were obliged to exert themselves to keep up the Husbands
spirits, who was almost distracted -- Patty exerted herself and
was in good spirits of course very agreeable -- I spoke of Mrs.
Garrick
s coming to Bath with great glee -- a certain person
seemed very cool upon that Subject -- I said: “I suppose you of
course will go to Bath to meet her.” No, She knows my sum-
mer
engagements and is so good as to excuse me” -- this appears
to me very odd -- has there been an Eclairciʃsement here -- She
said “probably you will find[2] there at your return “but this is very
uncertain” which was repeated -- was a friend of mine to come
to a place so near me on Acct. of Health & I disengaged -- casual
engagements would be set aside, I fancy -- 5/ at 9 oClock
a Mr- —— who's name I dont at this moment recollect came
to breakfast from Bristol, he is brother to a Clergyman who has
wrote a great deal about the Abolition of the Slave Trade, as this is a
subject very near Hannah's heart, of course nothing else was
talked of -- a thousand instances of barbarity were spoken of, wch
struck me with horror, & I thought it impoʃsible for a human
being to be so diabolical -- Mr. C. came with me 5 miles when I
turned off to go to Lady Fusts -- he is a very pleasant young Man
& an enthusiast in the cause -- Miʃs More has lately written
a very pretty thing which she gave me for you -- the Title of it
Bishop Bonner's Ghost -- I am very much pleased with it -- the
whole is a compliment to the Bishop of London[3] -- in forming a
confession between the two -- She wrote it at Mrs. Boscawen's who
shewed it to Mr. Walpole -- & he insisted upon printing it at



Strawberry Hill -- (by the way excuse me for saying, I wish that the Roses
Strawberries & Cowslips did not always blow -- they are delightful in
Season to be sure) and he has prefixed a print of Strawberry Hill --
a few copies were reserved for his friends & the rest for the author. --
at 12 I took my Leave with many civil things for you -- & arrived
at Lady Fusts at 2 -- I traveled thrō a delightful Country and
had a friendly reception from Lady F—— who has not been well for
several days -- she is very bilious -- Miʃs Hamilton[4] was very civil
& attentive -- 6/ This is a small house where Lady F. enjoys retire
ment
-- in some respects it is a pleasant situation -- in a fine country
and beautiful views from its neighborhood -- but 11 miles from
market & post Town, & every thing dear & hardly to be got on any Acct.
/6/ This morning I took a ride upon the downs which command
an extensive view of the Severn covered with Ships & small
veʃsels & a very fine prospect of the Welsh Coast, & Glocestershire
Lady F. told me the Story of Miʃs Fust's elopement, which is the
blackest affair I ever heard of -- [5] /7/ at one oClock to day I left
      Capenor Lodge -- Lady F. wished me to stay a few days
      longer & I shd. have been very glad to have complied with
      her desire; but I could not divest my self of my anx-
      iety
about you & I had already prolonged my Tour
a day longer than I at first intended -- at Clifton I accidentally
[met] Miʃs Newton's Dr. Patten's nieces, & I promised to dine with
them -- I called upon Miʃs Milnes & found her in good spirits
looking very well -- I had been uneasy about her for she appeared
to be flushed & feverish when I saw her before -- I did not see Mrs. M——
who does not yet admit Strangers -- I staid an hour & then went
to Dr. Stonehouse -- he poor man was but indifferent, but he
keeps up his Spirits wonderfully -- he asked me to dine
with him -- & desired me to say many kind things to you and
to compliment you upon my good looks -- I dined with the
Ladies
at their Lodging -- the set was not a pleasant one to me
they seemed very well satisfied, which was well enough -- I did
not stay Tea -- but proceeded homewards where I had the plea-
sure
of receiving yours of the 2d. Int & my dear Louisa's too
which I kiʃsed 20 times -- Indeed my dearest Wife -- we must
not be parted any more -- I can bear any thing but a sepa
ration
from you & no earthly consideration can make me any
amends for the loʃs of yr- company -- two hearts, so firmly & so affy.
united, should be so in every sense -- God bleʃs you -- I love you
dearly, & shall now tell you so in person very soon -- I have just



been to Dr. Fothergill's -- he was not at home -- I left word that I wd.
call upon him in the Evening -- It is my intention to leave this place
on Monday 17th. I shall come leisurely -- to Worcester the first, the
second to Birmingham & on Wednesday Eveg- I shall have ye- happineʃs
of embracing you -- if the Afternoon shd. not be wet, be so good as to send
Mira to Buxton -- the Coach, I see, by an advertisement, arrives there at
8 oClock -- I can ride home & it will save me 7/6 -- I am not fond of a
Chair from Buxton in the Dark -- & I will not sleep within six
Miles of my dear Mary -- Mrs. Garrick is not come yet -- at
least I cannot hear of her -- I rejoice that my Sisters are going
to vary the Scene -- perhaps it may turn out well -- Sir David
Murray
is here -- I like him -- there seems to be an honest seamanlike
Bluntneʃs about him --
                             Adieu God bleʃs you
      I am ever most Affy. & faithfully your JD
The harvest is begun & there are yet many hundred acres of Graʃs
uncut -- the weather is now intensely hot -- we have had No Thunder at all



My Compliments to Mr. Gaskell -- I see his Acquaintance
strutting about with his pupil every day -- I wish he was
in as fair a way to be provided for
When Mr. Cooper writes to my Father, how surprised
he would be to see two ,00,s, instead of one -- I might alledge
that it was only a small mistake of mine --

To
Mrs. Dickenson
      Taxal
      Chapel le frith
      Derbyshire[6]
x post[7]
[8]
[9]

(hover over blue text or annotations for clarification;
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)


Notes


 1. This is possibly John Hawkins, An expostulatory address to the Reverend Doctor Priestley [...], J. Tymbs, Worcester, 1788. The author signs himself ‘JOHN HAWKINS Barbone-Lodge, Worcester’.
 2. Is me omitted here?
 3. Beilby Porteus (1731-1809) was elected Bishop of London in 1787.
 4. Possibly Mary Hamilton's cousin Jane (later Mrs Holman).
 5. In 1787 Lady Fust's niece, Fanny Fust, heiress to Sir John's fortune, had been the victim of a plot by Henry Bowerman to elope with her to Brussels. A case was brought against Bowerman by the family, and the marriage was annulled, after a long suit, in 1789, due to Miss Fust's ‘imbecility of mind’. (See Caledonian Mercury, 27 June 1789.)
 6. Moved address here from middle of page, written vertically.
 7. This instruction appears to the left of ‘Derbyshire’.
 8. The address is crossed to indicate postage paid, as well as postmarked ‘BATH’.
 9. A seal in red wax remains on the left-hand side of the page. Remains of a seal in red wax can also be seen just above and below the address.

Normalised Text



      4 August 1789 Bath
I sent you a Letter yesterday & informed you that I was going to
Mrs. Hartleys. at 7 I called to drink Tea with Mrs. Rundell, but she was
not returned from some country expedition -- & I found an excuse, &
went on to Mrs. Hartley where I found a Mrs. Campbell & her young Ladies
who sang a very pretty duet -- one of them played a very difficult Concerto
on the Harpsichord with very great execution -- I don't know whether
my Taste is improved or vitiated but I must confess that what is
called a Harpsichord Lesson does not gratify me at all -- I have
taken a dislike to the instrument -- & what is commonly called fine
playing, is to me, an expeditious jumbling of Keys -- Mrs. Holroyd
& Miss Wilberforce came in for half an hour -- Mrs. Hartley told me that Miss
Wilberforce was going the next day to Cowslip Green -- the company went
away before ten & Mrs. Hartley desired me to stay supper -- in five minutes
a message came from the Rundells with an invitation to supper which I
declined of course -- I stayed with Mrs. Hartley till near eleven & then
called at the Rundells & stayed with them till 12 --
As no Letters arrived yesterday from my dearest Mary I was in
great doubts what to do, as I knew not what construction might
be put upon my letter which gave you an Account of the inflammation
in my Leg &c -- and as you talked of coming to me, I began
to think that might fix your resolution -- however as the
weather seemed so fine I thought it better not to defer my journey
or rather little tour any longer, as I should be at no short distance
from Bath; accordingly this morning at 8 o'Clock Set out for Bristol
and called upon Miss Mores -- they told me I had chosen an unlucky
time as Hannah was going from home, but when I mentioned
Miss Wilberforce's intention of going to Cowslip Green, they said, She
must be informed of it & pressed me to go on which I then did not intend
to do -- I saw the two eldest only, Patty was engaged in the School
I stayed about 20 minutes & went to the wells -- Dr. Stonhouse seemed
very glad to see me, poor Creature he has suffered excruciating pain
lately in having a carbuncle taken off his head, which mortified
he never closed his Eyes for ten days & nights -- in the last 48 hours
he has had a little sleep & as he cannot take any medicine for his
old malady the stone now, he is afraid that it may gain too great
a head -- he complains that he is obliged to take a pint of Madeira every
day which confuses him -- he spoke with great affection of his wife &
regard for you -- I desired that I would tell you how happy it made him to see me
so much improved in my Looks, which he said were 500 Per Cent better than
when he saw me 2 years ago. I stayed an hour with him, he spoke of a
publication of Mr. Hawkins Brownes, which he thought the best
thing that has been written in our Language for some time -- the Subject
is the negligence of the Clergy -- I went from him to Miss Milnes
& had the pleasure of hearing that the old Lady was better -- She gave
me a long Account of the distress she had been in & of her Mother's illness which
proved at last to be a Bilious Fever -- I stayed with her about half an
hour & went on to Cowslip Green -- I was charmed with the
view of Clifton from an opposite hill, on the Exeter road, which



commands a short view of the river, the rocks, the scattered houses on
Clifton, part of Bristol & the adjacent country all round -- I had a most cordial
reception from Hannah More & Patty who was arrived here before
me -- This little Cottage is exactly what I expected to find -- very neat
prettily furnished &c the rooms small -- the little pleasure ground very
well planted with shrubs, & an excessive pretty Root-house about 50
yards from the house where they generally breakfast & drink tea
it has no pretensions & is exactly what you & I shall like to have
in our grove, as it can be made at very little expense -- I made a
Sketch of it & the house -- We waited dinner an hour for Miss Wilberforce
but She did not come to day -- I found Hannah very low She
attributed it to a disagreeable Accident that had happened which
had damped all their summer enjoyment, as there is only one
month that the Sisters can live together here -- a Lady who came
to pay them a first visit was overturned out of a Phaeton (luckily
by her Husband) into a little rivulet near the house; she was
nearly suffocated by the Mud & her back was so much injured
that she could not be turned in bed for 3 weeks -- She was brought to
Miss Mores, apparently dead, & was taken away upon a litter -- this
was a terrible thing upon the Sisters, as they have only one spare
bed, & they were obliged to exert themselves to keep up the Husbands
spirits, who was almost distracted -- Patty exerted herself and
was in good spirits of course very agreeable -- I spoke of Mrs.
Garricks coming to Bath with great glee -- a certain person
seemed very cool upon that Subject -- I said: “I suppose you of
course will go to Bath to meet her.” No, She knows my summer
engagements and is so good as to excuse me” -- this appears
to me very odd -- has there been an Eclaircissement here -- She
said “probably you will find there at your return “but this is very
uncertain” which was repeated -- was a friend of mine to come
to a place so near me on Account of Health & I disengaged -- casual
engagements would be set aside, I fancy -- 5/ at 9 o'Clock
a Mr- —— who's name I don't at this moment recollect came
to breakfast from Bristol, he is brother to a Clergyman who has
written a great deal about the Abolition of the Slave Trade, as this is a
subject very near Hannah's heart, of course nothing else was
talked of -- a thousand instances of barbarity were spoken of, which
struck me with horror, & I thought it impossible for a human
being to be so diabolical -- Mr. C. came with me 5 miles when I
turned off to go to Lady Fusts -- he is a very pleasant young Man
& an enthusiast in the cause -- Miss More has lately written
a very pretty thing which she gave me for you -- the Title of it
Bishop Bonner's Ghost -- I am very much pleased with it -- the
whole is a compliment to the Bishop of London -- in forming a
confession between the two -- She wrote it at Mrs. Boscawen's who
showed it to Mr. Walpole -- & he insisted upon printing it at



Strawberry Hill -- (by the way excuse me for saying, I wish that the Roses
Strawberries & Cowslips did not always blow -- they are delightful in
Season to be sure) and he has prefixed a print of Strawberry Hill --
a few copies were reserved for his friends & the rest for the author. --
at 12 I took my Leave with many civil things for you -- & arrived
at Lady Fusts at 2 -- I traveled through a delightful Country and
had a friendly reception from Lady Fust who has not been well for
several days -- she is very bilious -- Miss Hamilton was very civil
& attentive -- 6/ This is a small house where Lady Fust enjoys retirement
-- in some respects it is a pleasant situation -- in a fine country
and beautiful views from its neighbourhood -- but 11 miles from
market & post Town, & every thing dear & hardly to be got on any Account
/6/ This morning I took a ride upon the downs which command
an extensive view of the Severn covered with Ships & small
vessels & a very fine prospect of the Welsh Coast, & Glocestershire
Lady Fust told me the Story of Miss Fust's elopement, which is the
blackest affair I ever heard of -- /7/ at one o'Clock to day I left
      Capenor Lodge -- Lady Fust wished me to stay a few days
      longer & I should have been very glad to have complied with
      her desire; but I could not divest my self of my anxiety
     
about you & I had already prolonged my Tour
a day longer than I at first intended -- at Clifton I accidentally
met Miss Newton's Dr. Patten's nieces, & I promised to dine with
them -- I called upon Miss Milnes & found her in good spirits
looking very well -- I had been uneasy about her for she appeared
to be flushed & feverish when I saw her before -- I did not see Mrs. Milnes
who does not yet admit Strangers -- I stayed an hour & then went
to Dr. Stonehouse -- he poor man was but indifferent, but he
keeps up his Spirits wonderfully -- he asked me to dine
with him -- & desired me to say many kind things to you and
to compliment you upon my good looks -- I dined with the
Ladies at their Lodging -- the set was not a pleasant one to me
they seemed very well satisfied, which was well enough -- I did
not stay Tea -- but proceeded homewards where I had the pleasure
of receiving yours of the 2d. Inst. & my dear Louisa's too
which I kissed 20 times -- Indeed my dearest Wife -- we must
not be parted any more -- I can bear any thing but a separation
from you & no earthly consideration can make me any
amends for the loss of your company -- two hearts, so firmly & so affectionately
united, should be so in every sense -- God bless you -- I love you
dearly, & shall now tell you so in person very soon -- I have just



been to Dr. Fothergill's -- he was not at home -- I left word that I would
call upon him in the Evening -- It is my intention to leave this place
on Monday 17th. I shall come leisurely -- to Worcester the first, the
second to Birmingham & on Wednesday Evening I shall have the happiness
of embracing you -- if the Afternoon should not be wet, be so good as to send
Mira to Buxton -- the Coach, I see, by an advertisement, arrives there at
8 o'Clock -- I can ride home & it will save me 7/6 -- I am not fond of a
Chair from Buxton in the Dark -- & I will not sleep within six
Miles of my dear Mary -- Mrs. Garrick is not come yet -- at
least I cannot hear of her -- I rejoice that my Sisters are going
to vary the Scene -- perhaps it may turn out well -- Sir David
Murray is here -- I like him -- there seems to be an honest seamanlike
Bluntness about him --
                             Adieu God bless you
      I am ever most Affectionately & faithfully your John Dickenson
The harvest is begun & there are yet many hundred acres of Grass
uncut -- the weather is now intensely hot -- we have had No Thunder at all



My Compliments to Mr. Gaskell -- I see his Acquaintance
strutting about with his pupil every day -- I wish he was
in as fair a way to be provided for
When Mr. Cooper writes to my Father, how surprised
he would be to see two ,00,s, instead of one -- I might allege
that it was only a small mistake of mine --

To
Mrs. Dickenson
      Taxal
      Chapel le frith
      Derbyshire
x post

(consult diplomatic text or XML for annotations, deletions, clarifications, persons,
quotations,
spellings, uncorrected forms, split words, abbreviations, formatting)



 1. This is possibly John Hawkins, An expostulatory address to the Reverend Doctor Priestley [...], J. Tymbs, Worcester, 1788. The author signs himself ‘JOHN HAWKINS Barbone-Lodge, Worcester’.
 2. Is me omitted here?
 3. Beilby Porteus (1731-1809) was elected Bishop of London in 1787.
 4. Possibly Mary Hamilton's cousin Jane (later Mrs Holman).
 5. In 1787 Lady Fust's niece, Fanny Fust, heiress to Sir John's fortune, had been the victim of a plot by Henry Bowerman to elope with her to Brussels. A case was brought against Bowerman by the family, and the marriage was annulled, after a long suit, in 1789, due to Miss Fust's ‘imbecility of mind’. (See Caledonian Mercury, 27 June 1789.)
 6. Moved address here from middle of page, written vertically.
 7. This instruction appears to the left of ‘Derbyshire’.
 8. The address is crossed to indicate postage paid, as well as postmarked ‘BATH’.
 9. A seal in red wax remains on the left-hand side of the page. Remains of a seal in red wax can also be seen just above and below the address.

Metadata

Library References

Repository: John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester

Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers

Item title: Journal-letter from John Dickenson to Mary Hamilton

Shelfmark: HAM/1/2/27

Correspondence Details

Sender: John Dickenson

Place sent: Bath

Addressee: Mary Hamilton

Place received: Taxal, near Chapel-en-le-Frith

Date sent: 7 August 1789

Letter Description

Summary: Journal-letter from John Dickenson to his wife Mary née Hamilton covering the period 4-7 August 1789. He updates Hamilton on his time in Bath and includes a visit to Bristol where he called upon the Miss Mores, who told him that he had chosen an unlucky time to visit as Hannah was going from home. Dickenson intends to leave Bath on 17th and travel leisurely back home via Birmingham and will have not got to Buxton until dark but writes that he will not spend the night there as he 'will not sleep within six miles of my dear Mary'.
    Dated at Bath.
    Original reference No. 14.
   

Length: 1 sheet, 1984 words

Transliteration Information

Editorial declaration: First edited in the project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers' (Hannah Barker, Sophie Coulombeau, David Denison, Tino Oudesluijs, Cassandra Ulph, Christine Wallis & Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, 2019-2023).

All quotation marks are retained in the text and are represented by appropriate Unicode characters. Words split across two lines may have a hyphen on the first, the second or both fragments (reco-|ver, imperfect|-ly, satisfacti-|-on); or a double hyphen (pur=|port, dan|=ger, qua=|=litys); or none (respect|ing). Any point in abbreviations with superscripted letter(s) is placed last, regardless of relative left-right orientation in the original. Thus, Mrs. or Mrs may occur, but M.rs or Mr.s do not.

Acknowledgements: Transcription and XML version created as part of project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers', funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council under grant AH/S007121/1.

Transliterator: Cassandra Ulph, editorial team (completed 6 July 2020)

Cataloguer: Lisa Crawley, Archivist, The John Rylands Library

Cataloguer: John Hodgson, Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Copyright: Transcriptions, notes and TEI/XML © the editors

Revision date: 2 November 2021

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