HAM/1/9/116
Letter from Harriet Anne[?] Bandinel and Mary Hamilton to John Dickenson, with a sample of Dorothy Blosset's handwriting
Diplomatic Text
No. 13 -- True Copy of a Note from Mrs- Bloʃsett
Saturday Night
19th. March 1808
The ------------------
of ------------------------
------ Mrs- Dickenson ------------
------ my grattitude ------
the Sigil of the Elegant Epistle
------------ further ------
I've ------ not ------ it but if you
------ it I write so --- ting well
employment for the
present, the rest of the
Note shall be deferred
till another Opportunity
For the last four Nights Miʃs A. Clarke has read aloud to us,
with a Voice that you probably heard at Birch,[1] tho' extremely
well -- but pronouncing the Letter R. which occur'd pretty frequently
in the Eastern Names so emphatically, that it required pretty strong
nerves to support it peaceably -- The Subject was “Reflections on
the Government of Indostan, with a Short Sketch of the History
of Bengal from 1738 to 1756, and an Account of the English
Affairs to 1758 -- by Luke Scrafton Esqr-” -- London -- printed 1763 --
reprinted by W. Strahan Jnr. -- for George Kearsley, in Ludgate Street,
and T. Cadell in the Strand, 1780.”[2] Miʃs Clarke wishes that I
should make you acquainted with some of the Names, so I have pick=
ed out the Title given to Lord Clive, as quite sufficient to break as
many Teeth as you may have to spare “Zubdut Ulmulk Nuʃseera
Dowla Sahbut Jung Bahader”.[3] -- When Mrs- Dickenson was out of the
Room this Morning, I remonstrated with Miʃs Clarke on her being so
fidgetty, and said that as Mrs- D. had lately been unwell, I thought
her manner of taking leave at Night, was very likely to make her
Nervous -- Upon which she said (and pray do me credit for keeping
my Countenance) that she earnestly recommended a blister to be put --
on Mrs- D.'s Head; as she herself had received great benefit from
it, and her Friend's Nerves might probably want rousing likwise. --
Notwithstanding all these Things, she is delightftfully pleasant, and
her Mind being so cultivated makes her Conversation at all Times
interesting. -- Her Spirits are surprizingly good. --
22/
Mrs- Dickenson sent to Miʃs Grant to day to request that she
would make a little pen-wiper to put in the Inkstand which Lady
Herries left to her, and this Evening Miʃs G. sent her Lover with it,
and it is one of the neatest little Articles you ever saw -- The young
Man was in high feather and his Eyes glitter'd so, that it did one's
heart good to see him look so happy -- He is coming again in April or
May, and on Mrs- D. advising him not to be under the hatches,[4] he said
with a very significant smile and nod, “O no, I have no occasion to be
so now” -- He and his Sister leave Leighton next Wednesday -- Mrs- D.
asked him the Reason why they did not drink tea here the other
Day, but he said he dared not tell that, but it was no fault of his. --
[5]
I had been laughing so unmercifully at poor dear A.M.'s pompous &
correct pronounciation of hard Eastern Names, which she took
such pains to teach us, that my poor eyes could not see to trace wht-
the dear little Bandinel[6] has kindly written down for me, (as
per above) -- A.M. has been amazin̄ly good all day, & to night
lighted her wax candle in her glaʃs Lanthorn -- nodded very
significantly to Miʃs B. & stole away without giving me her
usual Kiss, or taking any other particular leave of the room ex-
cept looking twice into the Coal-sckuttle, as Bandinel had
not had an opportunity of telling me of this secret convention,
I knew not what to make of it, till she explained it.
Though I at first laughed at the writing of Mrs: Bloʃsets Note, on looking
over it, since James left me, it gives pain to my feelings for it is very
evident either her hand or eyes are failing rapidly -- the whole of
the note is an exact counterpart of the specimen I got Miʃs B
to copy -- I must rack my imagination & inventive powers before Monday Morg-
when her meʃsenger is to call for an answer -- I dare not send it
to her Sister for an explanation of its contents. I wrote all
you told me, this morng. to Wing, about ------ Whitelock,[7] & had
fortunately finished it before Mrs B. messenger arrived, who was
going to Wing. I do strongly opine that that couple are morest
than dull just now -- wch. I think you might perceive from
her last note -- My time is arrived, so good night to you both.
Àpropos it was my joke, (an elegant word, almost as much so as
fun & fun̄y) -- to make Miʃs Bandinel inform Louisa that she
blushed at the high colouring of Govenour Le Mesuriers Manne[r]
amiabilities, sense, accomplishments &c. &c. I meant this as
a set off[8] for poor A.M. -- as she had not gueʃsed our good friend
Mr.. R. was a married man. I beg Louisa a Million of pardon[s]
I hope she will forgive me.
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. John Dickenson was at this time in Birch with his daughter. The circumstances are somewhat clarified by his diary entries. He writes that on 22 February 1808, ‘I rode to Hockliff [about four miles from Leighton Buzzard], called at Mr. Robinson's & sat some time with Mrs Bloſset & Mrs. de Salis’ (see DDX 274/24 p.136), and on 29 February ‘Called on Mr. Le Mesurier & saw his nephew the Governor’ (p.137), but on 6 March ‘Louisa & I set out with Mr. Robinson’ (p.138), arriving at Birch the next day and spending six weeks there, attending Dickenson's ailing father and making daily visits to Manchester and other nearby places. They left for home on 19 April, arriving the next day (p.144). In the light of this information about Dickenson's movements, it seems likely that Mary Hamilton had received the requested copy and report from Miss Bandinel, added her commentary, and sent it on to her husband in Birch. Hamilton is not at Wing on 19 March and is most probably at home at Leighton House; the Misses Clarke and Bandinel seem to be staying there too.
2. The printer William Strahan and the bookseller Thomas Cadell were important contemporary figures in publishing. Ludgate Street is now Ludgate Hill.
3. Zubdut-Ulmulk, Nuſseera-Dowla and Sabut-Jung-Bahader were titles given to Robert Clive after the war in Hindustan, and are considered to mean ‘the perfection of the empire’, ‘the sword of victory’ and ‘the experienced warrior’ (see W. Belsham, Memoirs of the Reign of George III, Vol. 1 (3rd ed.), 1796, p.107).
4. Meaning ‘concealed from public knowledge’.
5. The remainder of the sheet is in Hamilton's hand.
6. It is not certain who this is. Based on the reference to the governor John Le Mesurier further down the page, it is likely that she is related to the family of Bulkeley Bandinel (1781-1861), later appointed librarian at the Bodleian in Oxford (see ODNB), as some of them had married into the Le Mesurier family: Bulkeley's sister Margaret (1777-1823) (to the Rev. Thomas Le Mesurier) and later on, Bulkeley's nephew the Rev. James Bandinel (1814-1892) (to his first cousin Julia Le Mesurier, daughter of his aunt Margaret). Margaret was already married in 1808, but her younger sister Harriet Anne is a good fit for ‘the dear little Bandinel’. Their younger brother Bulkeley does not seem to have had any children himself.
7. The word 'Whitelock' seems to have been added at a later moment, as the ink does not match the ink of the rest of this section of the text.
8. ‘A taking into account of something as a counterbalance to a partial compensation for something else; a counterbalancing or compensating circumstance or consideration’ (OED s.v. set-off n. sense 3b. Accessed 14-02-2022).
Normalised Text
Saturday Night
The ------------------
of ------------------------
------ Mrs- Dickenson ------------
------ my gratitude ------
the Sigil of the Elegant Epistle
------------ further ------
I've ------ not ------ it but if you
------ it I write so --- ting well
employment for the
present, the rest of the
Note shall be deferred
till another Opportunity
For the last four Nights Miss Anna Clarke has read aloud to us,
with a Voice that you probably heard at Birch, though extremely
well -- but pronouncing the Letter R. which occurred pretty frequently
in the Eastern Names so emphatically, that it required pretty strong
nerves to support it peaceably -- The Subject was “Reflections on
the Government of Indostan, with a Short Sketch of the History
of Bengal from 1738 to 1756, and an Account of the English
Affairs to 1758 -- by Luke Scrafton Esqr-” -- London -- printed 1763 --
reprinted by W. Strahan Junior -- for George Kearsley, in Ludgate Street,
and T. Cadell in the Strand, 1780.” Miss Clarke wishes that I
should make you acquainted with some of the Names, so I have Picked
out the Title given to Lord Clive, as quite sufficient to break as
many Teeth as you may have to spare “Zubdut Ulmulk Nusseera
Dowla Sahbut Jung Bahader”. -- When Mrs- Dickenson was out of the
Room this Morning, I remonstrated with Miss Clarke on her being so
fidgety, and said that as Mrs- Dickenson had lately been unwell, I thought
her manner of taking leave at Night, was very likely to make her
Nervous -- Upon which she said (and pray do me credit for keeping
my Countenance) that she earnestly recommended a blister to be put --
on Mrs- Dickenson's Head; as she herself had received great benefit from
it, and her Friend's Nerves might probably want rousing likewise. --
Notwithstanding all these Things, she is delighttfully pleasant, and
her Mind being so cultivated makes her Conversation at all Times
interesting. -- Her Spirits are surprisingly good. --
Mrs- Dickenson sent to Miss Grant to day to request that she
would make a little pen-wiper to put in the Inkstand which Lady
Herries left to her, and this Evening Miss Grant sent her Lover with it,
and it is one of the neatest little Articles you ever saw -- The young
Man was in high feather and his Eyes glittered so, that it did one's
heart good to see him look so happy -- He is coming again in April or
May, and on Mrs- Dickenson advising him not to be under the hatches, he said
with a very significant smile and nod, “O no, I have no occasion to be
so now” -- He and his Sister leave Leighton next Wednesday -- Mrs- Dickenson
asked him the Reason why they did not drink tea here the other
Day, he said he dared not tell that, but it was no fault of his. --
I had been laughing so unmercifully at poor dear Anna Maria's pompous &
correct pronunciation of hard Eastern Names, which she took
such pains to teach us, that my poor eyes could not see to trace what
the dear little Bandinel has kindly written down for me, (as
per above) -- Anna Maria has been amazingly good all day, & to night
lit her wax candle in her glass Lantern -- nodded very
significantly to Miss Bandinel & stole away without giving me her
usual Kiss, or taking any other particular leave of the room except
looking twice into the Coal-scuttle, as Bandinel had
not had an opportunity of telling me of this secret convention,
I knew not what to make of it, till she explained it.
Though I at first laughed at the writing of Mrs: Blossets Note, on looking
over it, since James left me, it gives pain to my feelings for it is very
evident either her hand or eyes are failing rapidly -- the whole of
the note is an exact counterpart of the specimen I got Miss Bandinel
to copy -- I must rack my imagination & inventive powers before Monday Morning
when her messenger is to call for an answer -- I dare not send it
to her Sister for an explanation of its contents. I wrote all
you told me, this morning to Wing, about Whitelock, & had
fortunately finished it before Mrs Blosset messenger arrived, who was
going to Wing. I do strongly opine that that couple are more
than dull just now -- which I think you might perceive from
her last note -- My time is arrived, so good night to you both.
Àpropos it was my joke, (an elegant word, almost as much so as
fun & funny) -- to make Miss Bandinel inform Louisa that she
blushed at the high colouring of Governor Le Mesuriers Manner
amiabilities, sense, accomplishments &c. &c. I meant this as
a set off for poor Anna Maria -- as she had not guessed our good friend
Mr.. Robinson was a married man. I beg Louisa a Million of pardons
I hope she will forgive me.
quotations, spellings, uncorrected forms, split words, abbreviations, formatting)
Notes
Metadata
Library References
Repository: John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester
Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers
Item title: Letter from Harriet Anne[?] Bandinel and Mary Hamilton to John Dickenson, with a sample of Dorothy Blosset's handwriting
Shelfmark: HAM/1/9/116
Correspondence Details
Sender: Mary Hamilton and Harriet Anne[?] Bandinel
Place sent: Leighton Buzzard (certainty: low)
Addressee: John Dickenson
Place received: Rusholme, near Manchester (certainty: high)
Date sent: between 19 and 20 March 1808
notBefore 19 March 1808 (precision: high)
notAfter 20 March 1808 (precision: high)
Letter Description
Summary: Letter from Harriet Anne[?] Bandinel and Mary Hamilton to John Dickenson. Miss Bandinel's contribution, almost in the form of a journal-letter, was evidently written at Mary Hamilton's request and begins with a laborious tracing or imitation of Dorothy Blosset's handwriting (note the addition of ‘true’ before ‘copy’ in the title written above it). Rather than relaying the content of Blosset's note, the intention is to demonstrate its illegibility, and Miss Bandinel only gives a first extract. It is unclear who the note had been addressed to, but context suggests Mary Hamilton and/or John Dickenson.
Bandinel writes that Miss Clarke has been reading aloud
to them for the last four nights. ‘The subject was “Reflections on the
Government of Indostan, with a Sketch of the History of Bengal from 1738
to 1756, and an Account of the English Affairs to 1758 by Luke Johnston
Esq” – London printed in 1763’ and reprinted in 1780. Miss Clarke asked
Bandinel to inform Dickenson of some of the ‘Eastern names’ mentioned in
the work, so she provides a name given to Lord Clive, which she declares
‘quite sufficient to break as many Teeth as you may have to spare’.
Bandinel writes of telling Miss Clarke, when Hamilton was not present, that Miss Clarke's odd manner of taking leave might make Hamilton nervous, to which Clarke suggested applying a blister to her head, as she
herself had benefited greatly from this treatment.
Mary Hamilton gives her reaction to Bandinel's amusing account on the same sheet (p.2). She adds further news for Dickenson, who was then with their daughter at Birch, near Manchester, mentioning the pain occasioned by the evidence of Blosset's decline. The number 22 at the top of p.2 could be an indication that the sheet was once part of a journal-letter (cf. HAM/2/15/2, which is a collection of journal letters), but at present this remains speculation.
This item was originally catalogued as a copy of a letter from Dorothy Blosset, HAM/1/8/2/30.
Length: 1 sheet, 764 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 29 October 2021)
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: 9 April 2025