My Dear Miss Hamilton

      I could not have expected your
forgiveness, nor should I have deserved
it, had I permitted my mother's
letter to have gone to the post without
writing a few lines to you myself.
      My father is out all day
looks well eats, drinks, & walks
well, & never enjoyed better
health; therefore I leave you to
judge by your own feelings how
happy we must all be. We have
had a great deal of company in the
house with us for these three
weeks past, & next week we expect
Mrs. Burges Mr.. & Mrs. Strothoff

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to stay with us for some days.
      I have read in the newspapers
the accounts Sir William Hamilton
sent to the Royal Society, of the
earthquakes in Messina, & the
two Calabria's, surely there never
was known more distress nor any
thing so dreadful; how happy are
we in not being subject to such
misfortunes in this country, we
have had some very bad storms
of Thunder & lightning during this
summer. I hope Sir William Wake
is recovered & Lady Wake is better
since your being with her, as no doubt
she must be happy in having so
amiable & so sincere a friend as
yourself to help her nurse Sir William,
Friendship in general is I fear too

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much as Goldsmith represents it in
his Edwin & Angelina
And what is friendship, but a name,
A Charm that lulls to Sleep;
A shade that follows wealth & fame
And leaves the wretch to weep.
I hope ever to enjoy & to deserve
your friendship which you have
favoured me with, I may say from
my infancy. I am sorry to say my
mother has been disappointed in a
return of friendship from some
which would surprise & perhaps
hurt you was you to know who
I hint at, but I'll trust no more
to pen & paper as that is sometimes
faithless too. I drank tea with our
dear & amiable friend Miss Anna Clarke last
night & flatter myself I improve by

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her conversation, during the seven weeks
she was with us we read Mrs Chapones
letters they are very improving.
      I have read Goldsmiths Roman
history & was very much entertained
with it. Our Neighbourhood is
very agreeable the Card parties
have begun we have one this
evening, Mr.. & Mrs.. Grenville went out
for three weeks which time
will be elapsed next Sunday,
      excuse the blunders that are in
this letter & believe me to be with
the sincerest regard yours.
                            
I have sent enclosed a few lines I cut out of
a news paper I can say them ▼ by heart so you
need not return them I thought them very
pretty.
Mrs.. Lenton desires her compliments
to you                Mary Glover