Single Letter

HAM/1/8/2/23

Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton

Diplomatic Text


                                                         Audley End Janry 26th
                                                                   1801

My dearest Mrs Dickenson
I will not suffer Lord Braybrooke to leave this place again
to attend Parliamt without getting a direction for you -- I have
been impatient to thank you over & over again for yr kindneʃs
to me -- I was well aware of the magnitude of the favor
I ask'd. well knowing how unpleasant it is to an honest, th'o
a Vulgar mind, to be implicated in other peoples Affairs -- how
much more so to a mind like yours, not my only with high
Principles of Honour -- but with Polish'd manners. all I can add
is, that you may trust me safely -- I have not committed you
in the smallest degree -- I wrote my Sister, exactly the Censure
that Baily sent me, first as to the information I wrote him
respecting my Letter I wrote to my Sister -- acquainting her with part
of the busineʃs -- which I should think was Sufficient to Alarm
any one who is not determin'd to shut her Eyes & Ears to
Conviction. I trust it has done so -- she has wrote a tolerably
Spirited Letter to Stevens[1] -- she had not received an Answer last
Friday -- perhaps she may not answer it at all -- but upon that Answer



depends my return to Wing -- I shall therefore think my self very
much obliged to you & Mr Dickenson if you wd Enquire -- if a Lodging
could be procur'd in the Neighborhood of the Lodge -- I have
received a very Civil Answer from Major Gilpin -- who promises
to put order the Painting, (they have the longest traces & the
most dangerous behind them) immediately -- I have wrote my Sister
word, that however my Conduct may have been thought strict
respecting the keeping or discharging my Servant. I did not
think I ought to suffer such Vermin as Virgin & his daughter[2]
to tell me I was a fool -- or to sneer at me -- that Anne was
now under my Protection, & til I could ensure Peace to my
self & my Servants I would not return. if by Chance.
Mr D: or you sd see Baily ask him if they have given
up the thoughts of disposing of Anne. they have had ------
Sister upon a Visit from Steven's -- she however wrote Anne a very kind letter
almost mocking the Subject of her late folly -- I am truly
happy if my Turkey was Either pleasure or Service to you --
Miʃs Fisherson was long prepar'd for the loʃs of her Servant, &
she marries with the Approbation of her Mistreʃs -- & of his
Master
-- What Times these are -- my dear Mrs D: Lord Braybrooke
does not say much -- & hear by a little Gangche Gauche



that people in London are rather disatisfied -- & that the
t--- are not very happy -- & as a proof, Lord Buckingham
goes this year to paʃs the Parliamentary Season in PallMall,[3]
to keep a Steady watch I conclude. They talk of a new
Supplementary Militia, after having reduc'd the regular Militia.
I find that the Opposition are making a Stir -- for Grey also is
the declar'd Head of that Party -- as a kind of Shop (my frd
stil'd it) at the Thatch'd House. there is no Cockpit this Eveg.
Grey made the Amendment -- God send all honest Men to succeed
in getting us Peace -- I have had the most lively pleasant Letter
from our dear Mrs Carter that can be conceived -- do you know
she came from Deal by Night in the Mail Coach. her friends
all remonstrated, but she laugh'd at them all. I wrote her
that I hoped she would be able to repeat this ------ several
Times. but Ly Nelthorpe writes word that she saw Mrs Carter
at Chaple -- & thought she look'd sadly -- she & I are Engaged
in a warm dispute, (an Amiable one) she will not believe
that Buonaparte will restore the K: of France -- I do sincerely
believe it. Mrs Peachy was so good to send me a Letter for the
dear Emigrant Count Sulé who is in the highest Spirits --
he is sure the K of France will be upon the Throne in leʃs



than Six Months -- but he thinks that Buonaparte will be
King of Lombardy, take Mantua, Peschiare, the Piedmontese
all to Tuscany & that side the Alps -- I say -- No -- if he
has real Great Ambition, he will restore the Monarchy --
make them a rational free Government. he has already
aggrandis'd France. & then retire into private Life -- with
a name far Superior to one who made the World turn
pale. to point a Moral, or adorn a tale[4] -- he will not
only have saved France, but Europe, for if he could go on
in his Consulate, after having made such a change in one
year -- what Nation wd Suffer a generation of Monarchs --
Count Sulé writes, that Buonaparte had sent an Ambaʃsador
to Petersburgh & that Paul sent one from himself to Britain
to Louis 18, & has received one from Louis ye 18 -- he adds
that 25 French Emigrants are to go to Calais the day after
he sent that letter. he will not go til the king is upon the
Throne -- the Chatter is that the K: has facilitated the
match between Col Erskine & Lady Louisa Paget by making
the Col: an Aid de Camp. & his quickneʃs in getting rid
of Lady H——n. by getting the Q: of Naples letter for yr
Uncle
is much applauded. for a Letter from one Queen to another
was not to be Trifled with. he had heard of this Letter, & at ye



Interview which is Customary upon the return of a foreign Minister
he saw yr Uncle put his hand into his Waistcoat pocket, he
immediately Enquir'd after the Q: of Naples. & then Sir W: told his
Majesty
that his Wife was commiʃsion'd to give a letter to her Majesty
The K instantly said, have you got the letter, I'll give it to the
Queen
your Uncle gave the Letter -- et ------------ en resta la -- poor dear Mrs Jalabert is far
from well. we are all Uneasy about her. Lord B. very much so -- but
we dare not tell her. she sends her Compliments to you --
Miʃs Nevilles Philadelphia goes on very well. we were a little
alarm'd. for 16 is rather a dangerous age -- but we have now great
hopes that she will be Establish'd in her principles Sufficiently
to enable her to be a hard working farmers Servant in about
a year. She has given proofs this morning, that divine Truths
have made some impreʃsions on her mind --
Adieu my dear Mrs Dickenson give my kind love to Mr Dickenson
& the dear Lsa -- I really believe a more upright, Steady-Spirited
Man does not exist than Baily -- I trust in God that my Sister will
be as I believe she is. truly sensible of his Merits -- she is really one of
the best of Women. her merit is indeed exalted, & I am proud to
think it so -- but she was sure to be the dupe of Wicked people.
& she has too tenacious a Opinion of her own Abilities -- but
when once convinc'd no one more ready to acknowledge an Error --
th'o God only know what it costs her in the mortification of having



been so Groʃsly abus'd -- direct under Cover to Lord Braybrooke
& thank you for two letters ------------------------ which I duly
received -- What a sad cold morning for Lady L---s breakfast
I thought of Mr D: when I went in the Whisky[5] this morng



it was dreadfully cold -- once more Adieu & believe me most
truly & Affcly yrs DBloʃset. [6]


Walden Janry twentysix 1801

Mrs. Dickenson
      Leighton House
                             Leighton Buzzard


Griffin Braybrooke

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


Notes


 1. Presumably the wicked person mentioned in HAM/1/8/2/22.
 2. See also HAM/1/8/2/27 p.1.
 3. Presumably the street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster.
 4. Blosset references Johnson's couplet ‘He left the name, at which the world grew pale, | To point a moral, or adorn a tale.’
 5. A kind of gig, or chaise, built for one person with the seat resembling a chair.
 6. The address is in the hand of the provider of the frank, Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke.

Normalised Text


                                                         Audley End January 26th
                                                                   

My dearest Mrs Dickenson
I will not suffer Lord Braybrooke to leave this place again
to attend Parliament without getting a direction for you -- I have
been impatient to thank you over & over again for your kindness
to me -- I was well aware of the magnitude of the favour
I asked. well knowing how unpleasant it is to an honest, though
a Vulgar mind, to be implicated in other peoples Affairs -- how
much more so to a mind like yours, not my only with high
Principles of Honour -- but with Polished manners. all I can add
is, that you may trust me safely -- I have not committed you
in the smallest degree -- I wrote my Sister, exactly the Censure
that Baily sent me, first as to the information I wrote him
respecting my Letter I wrote to my Sister -- acquainting her with part
of the business -- which I should think was Sufficient to Alarm
any one who is not determined to shut her Eyes & Ears to
Conviction. I trust it has done so -- she has written a tolerably
Spirited Letter to Stevens -- she had not received an Answer last
Friday -- perhaps she may not answer it at all -- but upon that Answer



depends my return to Wing -- I shall therefore think my self very
much obliged to you & Mr Dickenson if you would Enquire -- if a Lodging
could be procured in the Neighbourhood of the Lodge -- I have
received a very Civil Answer from Major Gilpin -- who promises
to order the Painting, (they have the longest traces & the
most dangerous behind them) immediately -- I have written my Sister
word, that however my Conduct may have been thought strict
respecting the keeping or discharging my Servant. I did not
think I ought to suffer such Vermin as Virgin & his daughter
to tell me I was a fool -- or to sneer at me -- that Anne was
now under my Protection, & til I could ensure Peace to my
self & my Servants I would not return. if by Chance.
Mr Dickenson or you should see Baily ask him if they have given
up the thoughts of disposing of Anne. they have had ------
Sister upon a Visit from Steven's -- she however wrote Anne a very kind letter
almost mocking the Subject of her late folly -- I am truly
happy if my Turkey was Either pleasure or Service to you --
Miss Fisherson was long prepared for the loss of her Servant, &
she marries with the Approbation of her Mistress -- & of his
Master -- What Times these are -- my dear Mrs Dickenson Lord Braybrooke
does not say much -- & hear by a little Gauche



that people in London are rather dissatisfied -- & that the
t--- are not very happy -- & as a proof, Lord Buckingham
goes this year to pass the Parliamentary Season in PallMall,
to keep a Steady watch I conclude. They talk of a new
Supplementary Militia, after having reduced the regular Militia.
I find that the Opposition are making a Stir -- for Grey also is
the declared Head of that Party -- as a kind of Shop (my friend
styled it) at the Thatched House. there is no Cockpit this Evening
Grey made the Amendment -- God send all honest Men to succeed
in getting us Peace -- I have had the most lively pleasant Letter
from our dear Mrs Carter that can be conceived -- do you know
she came from Deal by Night in the Mail Coach. her friends
all remonstrated, but she laughed at them all. I wrote her
that I hoped she would be able to repeat this ------ several
Times. but Ly Nelthorpe writes word that she saw Mrs Carter
at Chapel -- & thought she looked sadly -- she & I are Engaged
in a warm dispute, (an Amiable one) she will not believe
that Buonaparte will restore the King of France -- I do sincerely
believe it. Mrs Peachy was so good to send me a Letter for the
dear Emigrant Count Sulé who is in the highest Spirits --
he is sure the King of France will be upon the Throne in less



than Six Months -- but he thinks that Buonaparte will be
King of Lombardy, take Mantua, Peschiare, the Piedmontese
all to Tuscany & that side the Alps -- I say -- No -- if he
has real Great Ambition, he will restore the Monarchy --
make them a rational free Government. he has already
aggrandised France. & then retire into private Life -- with
a name far Superior to one who made the World turn
pale. to point a Moral, or adorn a tale -- he will not
only have saved France, but Europe, for if he could go on
in his Consulate, after having made such a change in one
year -- what Nation would Suffer a generation of Monarchs --
Count Sulé writes, that Buonaparte had sent an Ambassador
to Petersburgh & that Paul sent one from himself to Britain
to Louis 18, & has received one from Louis the 18 -- he adds
that 25 French Emigrants are to go to Calais the day after
he sent that letter. he will not go til the king is upon the
Throne -- the Chatter is that the King has facilitated the
match between Colonel Erskine & Lady Louisa Paget by making
the Colonel an Aid de Camp. & his quickness in getting rid
of Lady Hamilton by getting the Queen of Naples letter for your
Uncle is much applauded. for a Letter from one Queen to another
was not to be Trifled with. he had heard of this Letter, & at the



Interview which is Customary upon the return of a foreign Minister
he saw your Uncle put his hand into his Waistcoat pocket, he
immediately Enquired after the Queen of Naples. & then Sir William told his
Majesty that his Wife was commissioned to give a letter to her Majesty
The King instantly said, have you got the letter, I'll give it to the
Queen your Uncle gave the Letter -- et ------------ en resta la -- poor dear Mrs Jalabert is far
from well. we are all Uneasy about her. Lord Braybrooke very much so -- but
we dare not tell her. she sends her Compliments to you --
Miss Nevilles Philadelphia goes on very well. we were a little
alarmed. for 16 is rather a dangerous age -- but we have now great
hopes that she will be Established in her principles Sufficiently
to enable her to be a hard working farmers Servant in about
a year. She has given proofs this morning, that divine Truths
have made some impressions on her mind --
Adieu my dear Mrs Dickenson give my kind love to Dickenson
& the dear Louisa -- I really believe a more upright, Steady-Spirited
Man does not exist than Baily -- I trust in God that my Sister will
be as I believe she is. truly sensible of his Merits -- she is really one of
the best of Women. her merit is indeed exalted, & I am proud to
think it so -- but she was sure to be the dupe of Wicked people.
& she has too tenacious a Opinion of her own Abilities -- but
when once convinced no one more ready to acknowledge an Error --
though God only know what it costs her in the mortification of having



been so Grossly abused -- direct under Cover to Lord Braybrooke
& thank you for two letters which I duly
received -- What a sad cold morning for Lady L---s breakfast
I thought of Mr Dickenson when I went in the Whisky this morning



it was dreadfully cold -- once more Adieu & believe me most
truly & Affectionately yours Dorothy Blosset.


Walden January twenty-six 1801

Mrs. Dickenson
      Leighton House
                             Leighton Buzzard


Griffin Braybrooke

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



 1. Presumably the wicked person mentioned in HAM/1/8/2/22.
 2. See also HAM/1/8/2/27 p.1.
 3. Presumably the street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster.
 4. Blosset references Johnson's couplet ‘He left the name, at which the world grew pale, | To point a moral, or adorn a tale.’
 5. A kind of gig, or chaise, built for one person with the seat resembling a chair.
 6. The address is in the hand of the provider of the frank, Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke.

Metadata

Library References

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

Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers

Item title: Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton

Shelfmark: HAM/1/8/2/23

Correspondence Details

Sender: Dorothy Blosset

Place sent: Saffron Walden

Addressee: Mary Hamilton

Place received: Leighton Buzzard

Date sent: 26 January 1801

Letter Description

Summary: Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton. She writes of Hamilton's kindness to her, on her sister and with general news.
   

Length: 2 sheets, 1289 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 16 November 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: 3 October 2023

Document Image (pdf)