Unlocking the Mary Hamilton papers

Single Letter

HAM/1/8/1/4

Letter from Elizabeth Iremonger to Mary Hamilton

Diplomatic Text


                                                         Wherwell -- Friday -- 4th. Septr
                                                         1789
Dear Mrs- Dickinson,
      I hope You recieved a very long Letter which I took the
liberty of writing You from Bristol-Wells,[1] in compliance with your request,
at the same time that I returned several Packets of the Manuscripts
which You was so obliging to send me. And since my return home, I believe
about Two months ago, I divided a Copy of the Rev: Mr- Collier's Sonnets
in Two Franks, & enclosed them also to You, but I am quite at a
loʃs to know whether any of them arrived safely. -- I am sure I shall
interest your Concern by telling You that my excellent Father, whom You
& Mr- Dickenson so much admired, has had a most shocking fall from
his Horse which has confined him now near Six Weeks. He fell with
all his weight on his Hip & Thigh, did not break or dislocate any bone,
but all the Muscles recieved such a violent bruise & general Shock,
that He has not yet any use of the Leg. He kept his Bed for
three Weeks, & the Rhumatism falling into the part affected, added
very considerably to his Sufferings. He has come down-stairs only within
these few days, & moves about the House with the aʃsistance of
two Men-Servants & his Crutches. A Surgeon from Andover, & another
of great repute, from Winchester, attend him; They do not seem to


think it by any means irrecoverable, tho' they hold out to us, that it
must yet be tedious; but my Father's Spirits are extremely dejected
from the total alteration in his way of life, which You know was so
very active before, & from his own perswasion that He never shall have
the use of his leg again. And He has returns frequently of violent
fits of Pain. You will sympathise with us all I really believe &
particularly with dear Mrs- Iremonger's tender feelings on this occasion,
tho' She exerts herself wonderfully & her tranquil mind is a great
Support, together with her charming & just way of thinking with regard
to all the trying Events of Life. -- I return You the Riddles, the Quipos,[2]
& Mr- Dickinson's french Songs; Over the aria d'anfoʃsi,[3] such a
misfortune with my Ink has befallen me, that I scarcely dare venture
to excuse myself; I can only rely on the Generosity of Mr-
Dickinson's Mind, which I am sure knows how to forgive; &
that He will accept of my best Thanks for his putting it into
my power to do him so much Mischief. -- I presume You have the
happineʃs of being acquainted with your elegant Poet & Philosopher
of Derby, Dr- Darwin, who has so highly charmed us with his
“Botanical Garden or the Loves of the Plants”.[4] Surely we have
not had to boast of such an ingenious Production for many long
Years! so novel in it's Imagination, & such beautiful Lines!
How charmingly too has He introduced your Friend Mrs- Delaney!


my Father & Mrs- Iremonger join with me in Compliments & good
wishes, with those of my Brother, to You & Mr- Dickinson. --
Little Catherine is quite well, & sends Love to her lively friend
your Darling Louisa. You will naturally allow of my concluding
Abruptly in this time of Trouble at our House, when I am
frequently called off, & therefore must now subscribe myself
                             Your Obliged Humble Servant
                                                         E—— Iremonger



[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
To Mrs- Dickinson
      at the Post-office
      Taxal         Chester.
Parkgate Chapel le Frith[9]
                             Derbyshire

                             [10]

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


Notes


 1. See HAM/1/8/1/3.
 2. ‘A device consisting of cords or threads of different colours arranged and knotted in various ways, used originally by the Incas of Peru and the surrounding areas for recording events, keeping accounts, sending messages, etc.’ (OED s.v. quipu. Accessed 16-12-2020). It is uncertain exactly what kind of item is being described here; perhaps a kind of puzzle is intended, such as this eighteenth-century word puzzle held in the Hordern-Dalgetty Collection (accessed 16-12-2020). The quipo is also discussed in HAM/1/8/1/5 p.2 and HAM/1/8/1/8 p.2.
 3. Pasquale Anfossi (5 April 1727 – February 1797) was an Italian opera composer.
 4. ‘The Botanic Garden, Part II: Containing The Loves of the Plants, a Poem: With Philosophical Notes’ (Lichfield, 1789). This poem was initially published anonymously, with Erasmus Darwin officially confirming his authorship of the work in 1794. It is mentioned also in HAM/1/6/3/6.
 5. Remains of a Bishop mark, in black ink.
 6. Remains of a postmark, in black ink, which reads 'CHAPPEL IN FRITH', upside down.
 7. Remains of a postmark, in black ink, which reads 'ANDOVER', upside down.
 8. A large figure 4, crossed out, and a figure 9 are written in manuscript across the address, denoting postage due.
 9. This letter, initially addressed to Taxal, has been redirected firstly to Chester, and then to Parkgate on the Wirral. See also HAM/1/4/2/7 and HAM/1/4/2/8 from September/October 1789, which have been similarly redirected. The Dickensons were apparently visiting to take advantage of the sea bathing on offer there.
 10. Seal, in red wax.

Normalised Text


                                                         Wherwell -- Friday --
Dear Mrs- Dickinson,
      I hope You received a very long Letter which I took the
liberty of writing You from Bristol-Wells, in compliance with your request,
at the same time that I returned several Packets of the Manuscripts
which You was so obliging to send me. And since my return home, I believe
about Two months ago, I divided a Copy of the Reverend Mr- Collier's Sonnets
in Two Franks, & enclosed them also to You, but I am quite at a
loss to know whether any of them arrived safely. -- I am sure I shall
interest your Concern by telling You that my excellent Father, whom You
& Mr- Dickenson so much admired, has had a most shocking fall from
his Horse which has confined him now near Six Weeks. He fell with
all his weight on his Hip & Thigh, did not break or dislocate any bone,
but all the Muscles received such a violent bruise & general Shock,
that He has not yet any use of the Leg. He kept his Bed for
three Weeks, & the Rheumatism falling into the part affected, added
very considerably to his Sufferings. He has come down-stairs only within
these few days, & moves about the House with the assistance of
two Men-Servants & his Crutches. A Surgeon from Andover, & another
of great repute, from Winchester, attend him; They do not seem to


think it by any means irrecoverable, though they hold out to us, that it
must yet be tedious; but my Father's Spirits are extremely dejected
from the total alteration in his way of life, which You know was so
very active before, & from his own persuasion that He never shall have
the use of his leg again. And He has returns frequently of violent
fits of Pain. You will sympathise with us all I really believe &
particularly with dear Mrs- Iremonger's tender feelings on this occasion,
though She exerts herself wonderfully & her tranquil mind is a great
Support, together with her charming & just way of thinking with regard
to all the trying Events of Life. -- I return You the Riddles, the Quipus,
& Mr- Dickinson's french Songs; Over the aria d'anfossi, such a
misfortune with my Ink has befallen me, that I scarcely dare venture
to excuse myself; I can only rely on the Generosity of Mr-
Dickinson's Mind, which I am sure knows how to forgive; &
that He will accept of my best Thanks for his putting it into
my power to do him so much Mischief. -- I presume You have the
happiness of being acquainted with your elegant Poet & Philosopher
of Derby, Dr- Darwin, who has so highly charmed us with his
“Botanical Garden or the Loves of the Plants”. Surely we have
not had to boast of such an ingenious Production for many long
Years! so novel in it's Imagination, & such beautiful Lines!
How charmingly too has He introduced your Friend Mrs- Delaney!


my Father & Mrs- Iremonger join with me in Compliments & good
wishes, with those of my Brother, to You & Mr- Dickinson. --
Little Catherine is quite well, & sends Love to her lively friend
your Darling Louisa. You will naturally allow of my concluding
Abruptly in this time of Trouble at our House, when I am
frequently called off, & therefore must now subscribe myself
                             Your Obliged Humble Servant
                                                         Elizabeth Iremonger







To Mrs- Dickinson
     
              

                            

                            

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



 1. See HAM/1/8/1/3.
 2. ‘A device consisting of cords or threads of different colours arranged and knotted in various ways, used originally by the Incas of Peru and the surrounding areas for recording events, keeping accounts, sending messages, etc.’ (OED s.v. quipu. Accessed 16-12-2020). It is uncertain exactly what kind of item is being described here; perhaps a kind of puzzle is intended, such as this eighteenth-century word puzzle held in the Hordern-Dalgetty Collection (accessed 16-12-2020). The quipo is also discussed in HAM/1/8/1/5 p.2 and HAM/1/8/1/8 p.2.
 3. Pasquale Anfossi (5 April 1727 – February 1797) was an Italian opera composer.
 4. ‘The Botanic Garden, Part II: Containing The Loves of the Plants, a Poem: With Philosophical Notes’ (Lichfield, 1789). This poem was initially published anonymously, with Erasmus Darwin officially confirming his authorship of the work in 1794. It is mentioned also in HAM/1/6/3/6.
 5. Remains of a Bishop mark, in black ink.
 6. Remains of a postmark, in black ink, which reads 'CHAPPEL IN FRITH', upside down.
 7. Remains of a postmark, in black ink, which reads 'ANDOVER', upside down.
 8. A large figure 4, crossed out, and a figure 9 are written in manuscript across the address, denoting postage due.
 9. This letter, initially addressed to Taxal, has been redirected firstly to Chester, and then to Parkgate on the Wirral. See also HAM/1/4/2/7 and HAM/1/4/2/8 from September/October 1789, which have been similarly redirected. The Dickensons were apparently visiting to take advantage of the sea bathing on offer there.
 10. Seal, in red wax.

Metadata

Library References

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

Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers

Item title: Letter from Elizabeth Iremonger to Mary Hamilton

Shelfmark: HAM/1/8/1/4

Correspondence Details

Sender: Elizabeth Iremonger

Place sent: Wherwell

Addressee: Mary Hamilton

Place received: Parkgate, Wirral

Date sent: 4 September 1789

Letter Description

Summary: Letter from Elizabeth Iremonger to Mary Hamilton, relating to an accident her father was involved in. Iremonger informs Hamilton that her father has suffered a fall from his horse and has been confined for almost six weeks. All his weight fell on his hip and his thigh. Although he did not break or dislocate any bones, ‘all his muscles received such a violent bruise & general shock, that He has not yet any use of his leg’. Joshua Iremonger had to keep to his bed for three weeks but his now down stairs and can move around the house with the assistance of man-servants and crutches. A surgeon from Andover and one from Winchester attend him and they do not view his injuries as irrecoverable. Mr Iremonger is in poor spirits because he is unable to go about his business as he used to and fro his worry that he may not regain the full use of his leg. Mrs Iremonger does all she can for her husband. Her ‘tranquil mind is a great support, together with her charming & just way of thinking with regard to all the trying Events of Life’.
    The letter continues on more general topics. She returns Hamilton some of her riddles [Hamilton was very much interested in riddles and puzzles]. She writes of Dr Darwin and his poem on ‘Botanical Garden or the Loves of the Plants’ [published anonymously in 1789] and of him introducing Hamilton's friend 'Mrs Delany'.
    Dated at Whirwell [Andover].
   

Length: 1 sheet, 573 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: Tino Oudesluijs, editorial team (completed 10 December 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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