Diplomatic Text
23
24[1]
Windsor Septr. 2d. 1781
Till I have ye. happineʃs of seeing you, my Dearest Ldy. Charlotte safe again in England
I shall have fears & Apprehensions -- but my Apprehensions about you & Ld. Winchilsea
are so much leʃsen'd that I feel I can now addreʃs you with greater ease of mind and
Satisfaction than I have yet done -- Your last Letters have afforded us the greatest comfort.
Pʃs.. A. & Miʃs G—— having made it their busineʃs to inform you of every thing paʃsing
in this family, I have deem'd it unneceʃsary -- I had written a long account of all our
arrangements at this Place but I found you had already been made acquainted with
them, Miʃs G. having sent you the information during my Illneʃs. I have a thousand
things Notwithstanding to say to you, but I feel so hurried, so unsettled, so certain of
interruptions that I know not how to begin or when I shall be able to end a
Letter. -- Septr. 3d. you are by this time Acquainted with Miʃs G. Illneʃs, she has been
confind above a Month -- tomorrow she intends taking her waiting, I have taken
the Advantage of their M. with Pʃs. R. & A. being gone to Moor Park,[2] Sr. Lawrence
Dundaʃs's, to begin again writing to you. it may appear improbable but I declare
my time has been so taken up this summer from before 7 in ye. morng. till ½
past 11 at Night, that I have not known what it was to be quite alone --
judge my Dr. Ly. C—— whether this was favorable for writing. -- Ldy. J. Penn
has been twice with their M.; Yesterday Eveng., and Saturday she was at the
Lodge -- She looks perfectly well & appears in good spirits -- to day she quits
Stoke & intends settling in Town. I must tell you a little Anecdote of Pʃs. Mary
-- when Lady J. P. came last Night, Pʃs. M said “I am glad Ldy. Jully is
come,” one of her Sisters told her she ought to call her Lady Juliana -- Oh says
she “I don't care how I call her -- God bleʃs her -- I love her, she is so like Dear Ldy.
Charte. -- & Pʃs. Sophia, who is my great great favorite, says Ldy. Chte. is very
ill Natured to stay so long; & is continually enquiring after you. I deliver'd your
Acknowledgements to ye. P. of W. enquiring after you. and he again order'd me to
present his love to you. he has begun Shooting and is very fond of it, this Morng
he was going to set out as we went to Chapel -- he has quite left off attending divine
Service on Sunday Morning's their M & ye. Princeʃses attend both the Chapel &
Cathedral -- the K has fitted up a Closet in the latter -- We had an excellent Sermon
Yesterday by the Bishop of Landaff his M. residence at W. -- and strict Observance of
public worship, has the good effect of making the Clergy very attentive to their Duty.
This, one of the Prebandaries told me. During the time the K. fwas absent with ye.
P. of W. viewing the fleet -- Lady Dartrey had the honor of being the Queens Guest
at W. her M—— seems much pleas'd with her -- & expreʃs's her approbation of Ldy.
D——'s manner -- &c. &c. -- though it was certainly a pleasure for me to see Ldy. D.
& be under the same roof with her for 6 Days, I had not the Comfort of enjoying
one single instant's private conversation with her nor were we once alone together
in a Room; She is quite recover'd and I never saw her better -- I believe she was as
much pleas'd with the Visit -- as she must be highly flatter'd by the invitation.
Princeʃs R. and I agree perfectly well together & things go on much better for ye
separation. -- You know we are quite to ourselves in the Upper Lodge. -- her R. H.
constantly attends her M. to Kew & London -- we now go but once a fortnight -- Pʃs. A
& E. have gone Occasionally when Miʃs G. was too ill to dine with them; last Week Pʃs.
A only accompanied Pʃs. R. Pʃs. E. was indisposed -- their M. went to the Play & we
slept in Town on thursday. the Q. did not take the Pʃs's. to ye. Play, it was the
Beggars Opera,[3] & she thought it an improper representation for them to be present at.
if Lady Weymouth had been well enough their R: H: were to have paid her a Visit, but
as that was not the case, the three eldest Miʃs Thynnes came to them. on friday Afternoon
Lady Weymouth was brought to bed of a fine Girl & is as well as poʃsible. My Letter
will be written like paragraphs in a News-paper -- You must excuse the Stile the
Writing -- the faults -- I am so determin'd not to lose the present Opportunity that I
scribble away as fast as I Poʃsibly can & put down what presents itself first to my
thoughts -- the Communication of which I think you may like to have.
Mrs. Walsingham charg'd me to tell you & Mrs. Fielding how much she felt herself
interested about you, & Ld. Winsea-. She has been settled about 3 weeks at W. I have
not yet had it in my power to pay her a Visit -- only call'd in twice for a few Moments
& then her M. was so good as to send me -- she is quite well, & has regain'd her
Spirits -- she does not yet make her Appearance upon ye. Terrace, or pay Visits --
but she receives Her friends in an Even.g.[4] Mrs. Newton & ye. Bishop of Bristol
never fail writing when I come to Kew to enquire if there have been accounts
from Lisbon -- indeed my Dearest Ldy. Charlotte it would considerably lengthen
my Letter were I to mention all those who make enquiries; & whom I am persuaded
are sincere in the regard they profeʃs, & respect they have for you. & who is
there that haves the least knowledge of your Character that would not respect
You -- & surely none that have the happineʃs of your Acquaintance but must
have the highest regard for you -- how much then must those feel who are
bound to you by gratitude, or honor'd by your Friendship. -- Often, very Often,
do I think over the Time I spent last Summer -- the recollection always affords
me a sweet satisfaction -- I enjoy your society again in Idea & I endeavour to
banish the Remembrance of all the Unpleasant Events that have since happen['d
-- God grant this severe trial being happily over & Ld. W. being as it were
restor'd to you, the remainder of your days may paʃs away without one event
to Cast a Cloud over them or disturb your serenity. 4th. Septr.. Miss G. desires me
my Dear Madam to tell you she has not been able to write for more than a fortnight
the Complaint on her Chest & a perpetual Blister, from which you know she
always suffer's so much, has render'd it impoʃsible for her to stoop to a writing
table -- she is now pretty well again & comes into waiting this Eveng. -- Next
Week she will write to you. I have enquired & do not find that any one has
Mention'd any-thing of ye. P. of W's Birth day -- my talent does not lay in
describing well; therefore you must be content with a simple Narrative of what
was done: We made our appearance at Chapel in the Morning, the Gentlemen
wore the Undreʃs Uniform[5] -- the Ladies Hats -- smart Poloneses[6] -- the Hair well dreʃs'd
white Cloaks, &c. -- each dreʃs'd agreable to their own taste except the Prinʃs's-, who all
wore rose Color trim'd with Gause.[7] Lady Courtown & Lady Egremont breakfasted with their
M. & the Royal family -- P. of W. also breakfasted with their M: after B. their was a
General separation -- I believe dreʃsing chiefly occupied the time till 2 O'Clock when
We all aʃsembled & attended their M. through a prodigious crowd of people to the
Castle -- we went to the P. of Wa——s's apartments, his, own, which are now fitted up in
an Elegant and proper Manner -- his R: H: was not ready to receive their M.
but all his Lords & Gentlemen attended in due form, after some time he enter'd
& then ye. Regiment quarter'd at W. (Lord Fauconbergs)[8] were drawn up before
ye. Windows & ye. usual ceremony of firing &c took place: Her M. made ye. P. a very
fine present of a single Brilliant for his Stock -- at 3 O'Clock their M. return'd to ye.
Lodge -- the P. 3 Princeʃses & 4 Princes from Kew, Duke of Montague Lady Egremont
(who had been some days in ye. Lodge) & Ldy. Courtown din'd with ye. K. & Q. Ld. Courtown
gave a Dinner at ye. Round Tower to all the P of W. family, some of the K——'s
that were at W. & a few strangers, there were 33 in Number. Windsor was so uncommonly
crouded that they could not find accomodations for half that came, & those that did
find accomodations were obliged to pay at an Enormous rate. all the P. trades-people
come from Town & were at ye. Expence of an Elegant Dinner at so much a head. At
6 O'Clock we went to ye. Castle -- to those Apartments their M: always se in --
in ye. first Room was a Concert, perform'd by the Queens Band -- Bach,[9] Abel,[10] &c &c -- .
and the German Band, this lasted till 8 O'Clock. -- To our great comfort, but to ye.
Disappointment of many Hundred people, we did not walk upon the Terrace --
the R, F. only made their appearance at ye. Winders. the Wind was remarkably
high, which I believe sav'd us this additional fatigue -- indeed how we could have
walk'd I know not, for ye. concourse of people was so great that there was no
Visible space between them. at 8 O'Clock, their M. 12 of ye. royal Children -- ye.
Duke of Cumberland[11] -- ye. P; Gentleman & we other proper attendants went to ye.
Audience Chamber -- the doors of the Presence Chamber, where the Company were
Aʃsembled, were thrown open & as they enter'd were spoke to by their M. Her M.
then went into the K's Drawing Room (which was ye. Ball Room) & they began
Dancing, in ye. King's Public Dining Room, which open's into the D—— R. was
Tea &c. & proper Attendants -- the whole of ye. Kings Apartment was open &
Card Tables in each Room -- at a little after 12 we went to Supper -- I
wish I could convey a proper idea of the very brilliant & magnificient appear-
-ance of St. Georges Hall which was the Supper Room -- it put one in mind
of descriptions in ye. tales of the Genii -- Their M—— 3 Pʃs's- P. Edward & Ladies
of ye. Bed. chamber sup'd at a Table under the Canopy at ye. upper end of ye.
Hall, they being rais'd so much higher than ye. rest of ye. Company were
seen -- & could see to ye. best Advantage. on each side, the whole length of ye. Hall,
they being rais'd so much higher than the rest of were ye. Tables for ye. Company
-- one for the Chaperons ye: other for ye. Dancers -- ye. P. sat about ye. middle of ye.
latter, with Ldy. A. Campbell on one side & one of ye. Ldy. Murrays on ye. other.
In the Gallery at the lower end of the Hall were plac'd the German Band & they
play'd all the time we remain'd at supper, which was near two hours. I believe
there was as many people to wait, as persons at Table -- the Supper was perfectly
Elegant, the fruits & wines remarkable fine, in short, the whole was perfectly
Right & every body was pleas'd. the Ball concluded at 6 in ye. Morning. I
inclose a list of ye. Company. The Dancers wore Poloneses -- the other Ladies
Negligees without long lappets.[12] the K. the Princes -- D of Cumberland -- D off
Queensberry[13] Lord Ailesbury All ye. P. Gentlemen & those belonging to ye. R——
Family wore the Windsor full Dreʃs Uniform -- the Queen Pʃs. Royal & her sisters
wore different color'd Clothes, trim'd with silver, & were all very fine I think
my Dr. Lady C. I have not forgot any circumstance relative to this important
Day. -- I have some fears that you will find what I have written tedious -- and
Unentertaining -- if it should prove so I beg you will let the intention plead
my Excuse. Mrs. Schwellenberg desire her Compts. and charg'd me with a thousand
fine speeches but I really did not comprehend them sufficiently to commit them
to paper. She is better than I have ever known her -- takes long walks -- dines
every day with Mrs. Hagerdon & me. -- and has been at Windsor all the summer.
By this time I hope Dear Mrs. Fielding is safe with you at Caldas -- I am very
happy she likes my Cousin -- Mrs. Graham expreʃs's equal pleasure at having
had an Opportunity of knowing her -- Lady Stormont has got a 3d. son, she
has been brought to bed, near a fortnight, is quite well, & nurses the child
herself. I beg my Affecte. Love to Miʃs Finch -- a very Saucy young Man
takes ye. Liberty of writing to her, & insists upon my sending What he has
wrote -- as you will see it first -- I venture to obey his commands -- Adieu my
Dear Dear Lady Charlotte I love & respect you more much more than I can
expreʃs.
M. Hamilton
Mrs. Cheevely is gone to Margate for a Month, one of her Children has
a humour in her Eye. She has taken ye. three with her.
Duplicate
Copy of one of my letters
(hover over blue text or annotations for clarification;
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. This annotation was written vertically to the left of the first line of the main text.
2. A mansion in Rickmansworth (Hertfordshire), just northwest of London.
3. A ballad opera written by John Gay, which premiered at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre on 29 January 1728.
4. Her husband the Hon. Robert Boyle Walsingham, a commodore in the Royal Navy, had died in October 1780 when his ship went down with all hands in a hurricane. Therefore Charlotte Walsingham's year's mourning would be almost over and she would be preparing to return to society.
5. A uniform that is typically worn on more ordinary occasions (distinguished from full or service dress).
6. ‘A woman's dress consisting of a tight, unboned bodice and a skirt open from the waist downwards to reveal a decorative underskirt’ (OED s.v. polonaise n. 2a = polonese n. 2. Accessed 08-09-2022).
7. ‘A very thin, transparent fabric of silk, linen, or cotton’ (OED s.v. gauze).
8. 'Fauconberg's Fencibles' from Yorkshire were established in 1779 and disbanded in 1783. The Earl Fauconberg at this time was Henry Belasyse, 2nd Earl Fauconberg (1743-1802).
9. Johann Christian Bach, known as 'The London Bach'.
10. Carl Friedrich Abel (22 December 1723 – 20 June 1787).
11. Prince Henry. Prince Ernest Augustus only received the title of Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale in 1799.
12. ‘A loose or overlapping part of a garment, forming a flap or fold’ (OED s.v. lappet).
13. William Douglas (16 December 1724 – 23 December 1810) was the 4th Duke of Queensberry and held the title from 1778 until his death in 1810.
Normalised Text
Windsor September 2d. 1781
Till I have the happiness of seeing you, my Dearest Lady Charlotte safe again in England
I shall have fears & Apprehensions -- but my Apprehensions about you & Lord Winchilsea
are so much lessened that I feel I can now address you with greater ease of mind and
Satisfaction than I have yet done -- Your last Letters have afforded us the greatest comfort.
Princess Augusta & Miss Goldsworthy having made it their business to inform you of every thing passing
in this family, I have deemed it unnecessary -- I had written a long account of all our
arrangements at this Place but I found you had already been made acquainted with
them, Miss Goldsworthy having sent you the information during my Illness. I have a thousand
things Notwithstanding to say to you, but I feel so hurried, so unsettled, so certain of
interruptions that I know not how to begin or when I shall be able to end a
Letter. -- September 3d. you are by this time Acquainted with Miss Goldsworthy Illness, she has been
confined above a Month -- tomorrow she intends taking her waiting, I have taken
the Advantage of their Majesties with Princess Royal & Augusta being gone to Moor Park, Sir Lawrence
Dundass's, to begin again writing to you. it may appear improbable but I declare
my time has been so taken up this summer from before 7 in the morning till ½
past 11 at Night, that I have not known what it was to be quite alone --
judge my Dear Lady Charlotte whether this was favourable for writing. -- Lady Juliana Penn
has been twice with their Majesties; Yesterday Evening, and Saturday she was at the
Lodge -- She looks perfectly well & appears in good spirits -- to day she quits
Stoke & intends settling in Town. I must tell you a little Anecdote of Princess Mary
-- when Lady Juliana Penn came last Night, Princess Mary said “I am glad Lady Jully is
come,” one of her Sisters told her she ought to call her Lady Juliana -- Oh says
she “I don't care how I call her -- God bless her -- I love her, she is so like Dear Lady
Charlotte -- & Princess Sophia, who is my great great favourite, says Lady Charlotte is very
ill Natured to stay so long; & is continually enquiring after you. I delivered your
Acknowledgements to the Prince of Wales and he again ordered me to
present his love to you. he has begun Shooting and is very fond of it, this Morning
he was going to set out as we went to Chapel -- he has quite left off attending divine
Service on Sunday Morning's their Majesties & the Princesses attend both the Chapel &
Cathedral -- the King has fitted up a Closet in the latter -- We had an excellent Sermon
Yesterday by the Bishop of Landaff his Majesty residence at Windsor -- and strict Observance of
public worship, has the good effect of making the Clergy very attentive to their Duty.
This, one of the Prebandaries told me. During the time the King was absent with the
Prince of Wales viewing the fleet -- Lady Dartrey had the honour of being the Queens Guest
at Windsor her Majesty seems much pleased with her -- & express's her approbation of Lady
Dartrey's manner -- &c. &c. -- though it was certainly a pleasure for me to see Lady Dartrey
& be under the same roof with her for 6 Days, I had not the Comfort of enjoying
one single instant's private conversation with her nor were we once alone together
in a Room; She is quite recovered and I never saw her better -- I believe she was as
much pleased with the Visit -- as she must be highly flattered by the invitation.
Princess Royal and I agree perfectly well together & things go on much better for the
separation. -- You know we are quite to ourselves in the Upper Lodge. -- her Royal Highness
constantly attends her Majesty to Kew & London -- we now go but once a fortnight -- Princess Augusta
& Elizabeth have gone Occasionally when Miss Goldsworthy was too ill to dine with them; last Week Princess
Augusta only accompanied Princess Royal Princess Elizabeth was indisposed -- their Majesties went to the Play & we
slept in Town on thursday. the Queen did not take the Princess's to the Play, it was the
Beggars Opera, & she thought it an improper representation for them to be present at.
if Lady Weymouth had been well enough their Royal Highnesses were to have paid her a Visit, but
as that was not the case, the three eldest Miss Thynnes came to them. on friday Afternoon
Lady Weymouth was brought to bed of a fine Girl & is as well as possible. My Letter
will be written like paragraphs in a News-paper -- You must excuse the Style the
Writing -- the faults -- I am so determined not to lose the present Opportunity that I
scribble away as fast as I Possibly can & put down what presents itself first to my
thoughts -- the Communication of which I think you may like to have.
Mrs. Walsingham charged me to tell you & Mrs. Fielding how much she felt herself
interested about you, & Lord Winchelsea. She has been settled about 3 weeks at Windsor I have
not yet had it in my power to pay her a Visit -- only called in twice for a few Moments
& then her Majesty was so good as to send me -- she is quite well, & has regained her
Spirits -- she does not yet make her Appearance upon the Terrace, or pay Visits --
but she receives Her friends in an Evening Mrs. Newton & the Bishop of Bristol
never fail writing when I come to Kew to enquire if there have been accounts
from Lisbon -- indeed my Dearest Lady Charlotte it would considerably lengthen
my Letter were I to mention all those who make enquiries; & whom I am persuaded
are sincere in the regard they profess, & respect they have for you. & who is
there that has the least knowledge of your Character that would not respect
You -- & surely none that have the happiness of your Acquaintance but must
have the highest regard for you -- how much then must those feel who are
bound to you by gratitude, or honoured by your Friendship. -- Often, very Often,
do I think over the Time I spent last Summer -- the recollection always affords
me a sweet satisfaction -- I enjoy your society again in Idea & I endeavour to
banish the Remembrance of all the Unpleasant Events that have since happen['d
-- God grant this severe trial being happily over & Lord Winchelsea being as it were
restored to you, the remainder of your days may pass away without one event
to Cast a Cloud over them or disturb your serenity. 4th. September Miss Goldsworthy desires me
my Dear Madam to tell you she has not been able to write for more than a fortnight
the Complaint on her Chest & a perpetual Blister, from which you know she
always suffer's so much, has rendered it impossible for her to stoop to a writing
table -- she is now pretty well again & comes into waiting this Evening -- Next
Week she will write to you. I have enquired & do not find that any one has
Mentioned any-thing of the Prince of Wales's Birth day -- my talent does not lay in
describing well; therefore you must be content with a simple Narrative of what
was done: We made our appearance at Chapel in the Morning, the Gentlemen
wore the Undress Uniform -- the Ladies Hats -- smart Poloneses -- the Hair well dressed
white Cloaks, &c. -- each dressed agreeable to their own taste except the Princesses, who all
wore rose colour trimmed with gauze. Lady Courtown & Lady Egremont breakfasted with their
Majesties & the Royal family -- Prince of Wales also breakfasted with their Majesties after Breakfast there was a
General separation -- I believe dressing chiefly occupied the time till 2 O'Clock when
We all assembled & attended their Majesties through a prodigious crowd of people to the
Castle -- we went to the Prince of Wales's apartments, his, own, which are now fitted up in
an Elegant and proper Manner -- his Royal Highness was not ready to receive their Majesties
but all his Lords & Gentlemen attended in due form, after some time he entered
& then the Regiment quartered at Windsor (Lord Fauconbergs) were drawn up before
the Windows & the usual ceremony of firing &c took place: Her Majesty made the Prince a very
fine present of a single Brilliant for his Stock -- at 3 O'Clock their Majesties returned to the
Lodge -- the Prince 3 Princesses & 4 Princes from Kew, Duke of Montague Lady Egremont
(who had been some days in the Lodge) & Lady Courtown dined with the King & Queen Lord Courtown
gave a Dinner at the Round Tower to all the Prince of Wales family, some of the King's
that were at Windsor & a few strangers, there were 33 in Number. Windsor was so uncommonly
crowded that they could not find accommodations for half that came, & those that did
find accommodations were obliged to pay at an Enormous rate. all the Prince trades-people
come from Town & were at the Expense of an Elegant Dinner at so much a head. At
6 O'Clock we went to the Castle -- to those Apartments their Majesties always se in --
in the first Room was a Concert, performed by the Queens Band -- Bach, Abel, &c &c -- .
and the German Band, this lasted till 8 O'Clock. -- To our great comfort, but to the
Disappointment of many Hundred people, we did not walk upon the Terrace --
the Royal Family only made their appearance at the Windows. the Wind was remarkably
high, which I believe saved us this additional fatigue -- indeed how we could have
walked I know not, for the concourse of people was so great that there was no
Visible space between them. at 8 O'Clock, their Majesties 12 of the royal Children -- the
Duke of Cumberland -- the Prince; Gentleman & we other proper attendants went to the
Audience Chamber -- the doors of the Presence Chamber, where the Company were
Assembled, were thrown open & as they entered were spoken to by their Majesties Her Majesty
then went into the King's Drawing Room (which was the Ball Room) & they began
Dancing, in the King's Public Dining Room, which open's into the Drawing Room was
Tea &c. & proper Attendants -- the whole of the Kings Apartment was open &
Card Tables in each Room -- at a little after 12 we went to Supper -- I
wish I could convey a proper idea of the very brilliant & magnificent appearance
of St. Georges Hall which was the Supper Room -- it put one in mind
of descriptions in the tales of the Genii -- Their Majesties 3 Princesses Prince Edward & Ladies
of the Bed. chamber supped at a Table under the Canopy at the upper end of the
Hall, they being raised so much higher than the rest of the Company were
seen -- & could see to the best Advantage. on each side, the whole length of the Hall,
were the Tables for the Company
-- one for the Chaperones the other for the Dancers -- the Prince sat about the middle of the
latter, with Lady Augusta Campbell on one side & one of the Lady Murrays on the other.
In the Gallery at the lower end of the Hall were placed the German Band & they
played all the time we remained at supper, which was near two hours. I believe
there was as many people to wait, as persons at Table -- the Supper was perfectly
Elegant, the fruits & wines remarkable fine, in short, the whole was perfectly
Right & every body was pleased. the Ball concluded at 6 in the Morning. I
enclose a list of the Company. The Dancers wore Poloneses -- the other Ladies
Negligees without long lappets. the King the Princes -- Duke of Cumberland -- Duke of
Queensberry Lord Ailesbury All the Prince Gentlemen & those belonging to the Royal
Family wore the Windsor full Dress Uniform -- the Queen Princess Royal & her sisters
wore different coloured Clothes, trimmed with silver, & were all very fine I think
my Dear Lady Charlotte I have not forgotten any circumstance relative to this important
Day. -- I have some fears that you will find what I have written tedious -- and
Unentertaining -- if it should prove so I beg you will let the intention plead
my Excuse. Mrs. Schwellenberg desire her Compliments and charged me with a thousand
fine speeches but I really did not comprehend them sufficiently to commit them
to paper. She is better than I have ever known her -- takes long walks -- dines
every day with Mrs. Hagerdon & me. -- and has been at Windsor all the summer.
By this time I hope Dear Mrs. Fielding is safe with you at Caldas -- I am very
happy she likes my Cousin -- Mrs. Graham express's equal pleasure at having
had an Opportunity of knowing her -- Lady Stormont has got a 3d. son, she
has been brought to bed, near a fortnight, is quite well, & nurses the child
herself. I beg my Affectionate Love to Miss Finch -- a very Saucy young Man
takes the Liberty of writing to her, & insists upon my sending What he has
written -- as you will see it first -- I venture to obey his commands -- Adieu my
Dear Dear Lady Charlotte I love & respect you more much more than I can
express.
Mary Hamilton
Mrs. Cheevely is gone to Margate for a Month, one of her Children has
a humour in her Eye. She has taken the three with her.
Duplicate
Copy of one of my letters
(consult diplomatic text or XML for annotations, deletions, clarifications, persons,
quotations, spellings, uncorrected forms, split words, abbreviations, formatting)
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: Copy of letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Finch
Shelfmark: HAM/1/12/72
Correspondence Details
Sender: Mary Hamilton
Place sent: Windsor
Addressee: Lady Charlotte Finch (née Fermor)
Place received: unknown
Date sent: 2 September 1781
Letter Description
Summary: Copy of letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Finch. Until she sees Finch and her son back safe in England Hamilton will always be anxious although her last letters have given all at Windsor some comfort. She notes that Miss G[oldsworthy] has written to Finch with news of the family at Windsor so it is not necessary for her to do so. Continuing writing her letter the following day she updates Finch on the health of Miss Goldsworthy who has now been confined for over a month. Hamilton writes that she had been busy the whole summer stating at 7 in the morning until 11.30 at night, she has ‘not known what it is to be quite alone’, which has made finding time for writing difficult. She reports that Lady Juliana Penn was with the King and Queen yesterday evening and on Saturday and looks very well. She provides an anecdote of Princess Mary who when Lady Penn came last night said that she is so glad that Lady Sally ‘is come’. One of her sisters said that she must call her Lady Juliana. Princess Mary replied ‘I don’t care how I call her – God bless her I love her, she is so like Dearest’. Hamilton informs Finch that she has passed on her acknowledgement to the Prince of Wales and he presents his love to you. She reports that he has begun shooting and is enjoying it. He passed her that morning when she was on her way to chapel as he ‘has quite left off attending dawn service’. On Sunday mornings the King and Queen and princesses attend both Chapel and the Cathedral. Hamilton continues on the sermon and on Lady Dartrey being the Queen’s guest at Windsor. Hamilton writes that she was pleased to be under the same roof as Lady Dartrey for six days but that in all that time she was not able to have a private conversation with her.
Hamilton continues on her routine at Court and news of the Royal Family. The King and Queen went to see the Beggars Opera but they thought it not appropriate for the princesses to attend. The letter also provides news of friends. Lady Weymouth has had a baby and both are as well as possible. The Bishop of Bristol and Mrs Newton never fail to ask for accounts from Lisbon when they are at Kew. Hamilton notes that it would considerably lengthen her letter if she listed all who have made enquiries about her.
Writing on the 4 September, Hamilton notes that Miss Goldsworthy wished her to inform Finch that she has not been able to write for a fortnight because of her health and the ‘perpetual blister’, which prevents her stooping to write. She writes that she is now much better and will write shortly. Hamilton continues to give an account of the Prince of Wales birthday. He made an appearance at Chapel in the morning and the Ladies wore hats and smart polonaise with their hair well dressed. All the princesses wore a rose colour trimmed with gauze. The Prince took breakfast with the King and Queen. Hamilton believes that dressing took up the majority of time until 2 o’clock when everyone assembled and attended the King and Queen through a crowd of people to the Castle. They then went to the Prince of Wales apartments which was decorated in an ‘elegant manner’. The Prince was not ready to receive his parents but his Lords and gentlemen attended them. When the Prince entered a regiment which was quartered at Windsor were drawn up before the windows and carried out the ‘usual ceremony of firing’. The Queen gave the Prince a present of ‘a simple Brilliant for his stock’. There was a dinner in the Round Tower with 33 people attending. Windsor was so crowded that accommodation could not be found for almost half. Those ‘that did find accommodation were obliged to pay at an enormous rate’. At 6 o’clock Hamilton notes that we went to the Castle. In the first room was a concert performed by the Queen’s Band who were playing Bach, Abel and so on. There was also a German Band. This entertainment carried on until 8 o’clock by which time the King and Queen and twelve of the Royal children as well as some others went to the audience chamber and then on to the Ball. The whole of the Royal apartment were open and had card tables. At a little after 12 o’clock they had supper. Hamilton describes in detail the decoration of the supper room and the supper itself which lasted two hours. The Ball ended at 6 o’clock in the morning. The dancers wore polonaises, ‘the other Ladies negligence without long lappets’. Hamilton describes the clothes of the ladies and notes that many of the gentleman wore full dress uniform.
Hamilton ends her letter with the hope that Finch will not find it dull and that by the time she receives it that Mrs Fielding is with her in Caldas.
Dated at Windsor.
Length: 1 sheet, 2315 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 1 June 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: 10 December 2021