Single Letter

HAM/1/13/41

Letter from Eleanor Glover (née Lenton) and Mary Glover to Mary Hamilton and John Dickenson

Diplomatic Text


20

Octbr. 1786
Sunning Hill

My Dear Miranda


      It is so long since I have put pen
to paper, except on busineʃs, that I have rather taken
a dislike to it; but I now cannot refrain from wishing
my Dearest Miranda joy on the expectation of her
soon being a Mother; Every sincere wish for
your safety, & welfare, I beg of you to accept, as
you may be sure that all your friends, will be
anxious for you, but none more so, than my
Self. I know you love me, & I dare say you
wou'd like to hear, how I have spent my Summer,
very retired, but still chearful, & I hope in
doing some good; you have already been inform'd
how Mr. Bourdieu has, & is ill treated by five
of his Children
;[1] Mary the youngest girl, & who
is my god-daughter, has a good disposition & a
understanding, her I had with me for two
months during her vacation, fearing that if
she went home, she wou'd be totally ruin'd,
I therefore hope, I have sav'd her; She is now
return'd to the Miʃs Duttons;[2] & I flatter my
self with good example, & kind treatment,
it has made a proper impreʃsion, upon her
Young & tender mind; which is a most pleasing
reflection to me, as you may suppose. & since
she left me, her Sister Anna-Marie is come
to me, she has been at Bruʃsels for near two
years; where she found out that her family are
behaving in a most scandelous manner, when
she returned home, they tried all means, to
bring her over to the same way of thinking



with themselves; but she nobly withstood,
both their intreaties, & menaces; She was oblig'd
at last from ill treatment to fly from
her fathers House, to Mr. Chollet, who was
so kind as to receive her; I heard that she was
much improv'd, in every respect, which induc-
-ed
me to give her an invitation to my house
where she now is; but she far exceeds all the
good accounts I had heard of her; She is truly
a most accomplish'd & amiable Girl, with a
sweetneʃs of temper, that one does not often
meet with; I quite love her; & have promis'd
her my protection, not only that, but my
house shall be her home, till her father
returns from Paris; where he has been fif-
teen
Months, upon that busineʃs, that was
to have brought him in ten thousand pound
per year; that part of the story you can't
have forgot; he has been expected home
these six Months last past; I am afraid this
is a wild project, & not unlike himself; my
Dear Mr. Glover never approv'd of it; all
this appears a just plea for his delay; but my
real sentiments are, that he has not resolu-
-tion
, & firmneʃs, to doe himself justice,
& those that deserve his future favors; he
certainly was a good father, & loved all
his Children
; but he is a very faulty Man,
I pitty him most sincerely in his present
situation; for at his return, there is no
alternative, but he must shut his Doors a



gainst
them. My Dear Miranda, this is a
hard task for a Parent to perform. --
My young friend is not of Age till Febry.
& when she was a Broad, from her prudence,
& gen---tle manner, got introduced, into the
first familys, went to Court, & I am inform['d]
left a great character behind her, & many
Friends; she liv'd in some stile, which her
father
supported her in; I make no doubt,
that was a peice of pride in him, & very
natural for her to like it; I greatly admire
her good sense, that She is not in the least
set up by it. -- I hear but a very
indifferent account of R: G:
after receiving fourteen thousand pounds
since his fathers Death, appears to be
a distreʃs'd Man; we have not been upon
speaking terms, since our busineʃs was
finish'd; but I am told he has re[mov'd]
from his Old Lodging into a worse, or let
a wretch. -- how perfectly did his poor Dear
Father
know him; he always told me
no one knew him, but himself! I desire to
be kindly rememberd to your better half
pray let him know he has not been so lucky
in recommending a Servant to me, as I
was to you; it makes me quite happy that she suit[s]
you so well. God bless you my Dear Miranda
with best compliments to the family      E G



My dear Mr Dickenson

      I have just time to thank you for your las[t]
very kind letter, & to expreʃs my best wishes for Mrs. D.., I sh[all]
be very anxious for her safety, my best love to her, I would
have answer'd her letter, but you are witneʃs that I have not room.
I must tell you what news I can, Mrs. Delany was well
when I last heard which was about a week ago, Princeʃs Eliz.
very poorly indeed, Miʃs Clayton is just upon the point
of being married to Coln: Fox. Mr & Mrs. Cole beg'd
me to present their best Compts. to you both.



[3]Our dear A Maria returns on the 16th- I hope we shall
see her before long, I hope that she will be able
to pay you a visit, as I am sure it will add both to her
own & Mrs. Dickenson happineʃs. I am now writing in Mrs.
Luxmore
room Miʃs E Barnard that was, Mrs. Barnard is
just come in, she looks indifferently & I suppose has not
got up her spirits. -- With best compts: I remain my dear
Brother
yr- Affectionate Sister[4]
                                                         M—— G——
Mrs Glover
Octbr 1786[5]


Mrs.. Dickenson
      Taxal
           Chapel le Frith
                             Derbyshire

Single Sheet[6]

[7]
[8]

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


Notes


 1. Eleanor Glover is referring to an incident that Mary Glover mentioned previously in HAM/1/13/37, which involved Mr. Bourdieu's sons James and John, as well as his daughters Philippa and Harriott.
 2. Possibly the daughters of James Dutton, 1st Baron of Sherborne.
 3. The section from 'Our dear Anna Maria' to the signature appears upside down at the bottom of p.4.
 4. Mary Glover is referring to Dickenson as a surrogate brother (in law) here, rather than a literal family relationship, by dint of his marriage to Mary Hamilton, who had treated the Glovers as a surrogate family.
 5. This annotation appears vertically along the left margin of the page.
 6. The address appears in the centre of the page, perpendicular to the main text.
 7. The envelope bears a postmark 'Windsor', a Bishop mark and remains of a read wax seal. The address has been crossed to indicate postage paid.
 8. The envelope has subsequently used as scrap paper: there are several cancelled and illegible lines of ink.

Normalised Text



October 1786
Sunning Hill

My Dear Miranda


      It is so long since I have put pen
to paper, except on business, that I have rather taken
a dislike to it; but I now cannot refrain from wishing
my Dearest Miranda joy on the expectation of her
soon being a Mother; Every sincere wish for
your safety, & welfare, I beg of you to accept, as
you may be sure that all your friends, will be
anxious for you, but none more so, than my
Self. I know you love me, & I dare say you
would like to hear, how I have spent my Summer,
very retired, but still cheerful, & I hope in
doing some good; you have already been informed
how Mr. Bourdieu has, & is ill treated by five
of his Children; Mary the youngest girl, & who
is my god-daughter, has a good disposition & a
understanding, her I had with me for two
months during her vacation, fearing that if
she went home, she would be totally ruined,
I therefore hope, I have saved her; She is now
returned to the Miss Duttons; & I flatter my
self with good example, & kind treatment,
it has made a proper impression, upon her
Young & tender mind; which is a most pleasing
reflection to me, as you may suppose. & since
she left me, her Sister Anna-Marie is come
to me, she has been at Brussels for near two
years; where she found out that her family are
behaving in a most scandalous manner, when
she returned home, they tried all means, to
bring her over to the same way of thinking



with themselves; but she nobly withstood,
both their entreaties, & menaces; She was obliged
at last from ill treatment to fly from
her fathers House, to Mr. Chollet, who was
so kind as to receive her; I heard that she was
much improved, in every respect, which induced
me to give her an invitation to my house
where she now is; but she far exceeds all the
good accounts I had heard of her; She is truly
a most accomplished & amiable Girl, with a
sweetness of temper, that one does not often
meet with; I quite love her; & have promised
her my protection, not only that, but my
house shall be her home, till her father
returns from Paris; where he has been fifteen
Months, upon that business, that was
to have brought him in ten thousand pound
per year; that part of the story you can't
have forgotten; he has been expected home
these six Months last past; I am afraid this
is a wild project, & not unlike himself; my
Dear Mr. Glover never approved of it; all
this appears a just plea for his delay; but my
real sentiments are, that he has not resolution
, & firmness, to do himself justice,
& those that deserve his future favours; he
certainly was a good father, & loved all
his Children; but he is a very faulty Man,
I pity him most sincerely in his present
situation; for at his return, there is no
alternative, but he must shut his Doors against



them. My Dear Miranda, this is a
hard task for a Parent to perform. --
My young friend is not of Age till February
& when she was a Broad, from her prudence,
& gentle manner, got introduced, into the
first families, went to Court, & I am informed
left a great character behind her, & many
Friends; she lived in some style, which her
father supported her in; I make no doubt,
that was a piece of pride in him, & very
natural for her to like it; I greatly admire
her good sense, that She is not in the least
set up by it. -- I hear but a very
indifferent account of Richard Glover
after receiving fourteen thousand pounds
since his fathers Death, appears to be
a distressed Man; we have not been upon
speaking terms, since our business was
finished; but I am told he has removed
from his Old Lodging into a worse, or let
a wretch. -- how perfectly did his poor Dear
Father know him; he always told me
no one knew him, but himself! I desire to
be kindly remembered to your better half
pray let him know he has not been so lucky
in recommending a Servant to me, as I
was to you; it makes me quite happy that she suits
you so well. God bless you my Dear Miranda
with best compliments to the family      Eleanor Glover



My dear Mr Dickenson

      I have just time to thank you for your last
very kind letter, & to express my best wishes for Mrs. Dickenson, I shall
be very anxious for her safety, my best love to her, I would
have answered her letter, but you are witness that I have not room.
I must tell you what news I can, Mrs. Delany was well
when I last heard which was about a week ago, Princess Elizabeth
very poorly indeed, Miss Clayton is just upon the point
of being married to Colonel Fox. Mr & Mrs. Cole begged
me to present their best Compliments to you both.



Our dear Anna Maria returns on the 16th- I hope we shall
see her before long, I hope that she will be able
to pay you a visit, as I am sure it will add both to her
own & Mrs. Dickenson happiness. I am now writing in Mrs.
Luxmore room Miss Elizabeth Barnard that was, Mrs. Barnard is
just come in, she looks indifferently & I suppose has not
got up her spirits. -- With best compliments I remain my dear
Brother your- Affectionate Sister
                                                         Mary Glover


Mrs.. Dickenson
      Taxal
           Chapel le Frith
                             Derbyshire

Single Sheet



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



 1. Eleanor Glover is referring to an incident that Mary Glover mentioned previously in HAM/1/13/37, which involved Mr. Bourdieu's sons James and John, as well as his daughters Philippa and Harriott.
 2. Possibly the daughters of James Dutton, 1st Baron of Sherborne.
 3. The section from 'Our dear Anna Maria' to the signature appears upside down at the bottom of p.4.
 4. Mary Glover is referring to Dickenson as a surrogate brother (in law) here, rather than a literal family relationship, by dint of his marriage to Mary Hamilton, who had treated the Glovers as a surrogate family.
 5. This annotation appears vertically along the left margin of the page.
 6. The address appears in the centre of the page, perpendicular to the main text.
 7. The envelope bears a postmark 'Windsor', a Bishop mark and remains of a read wax seal. The address has been crossed to indicate postage paid.
 8. The envelope has subsequently used as scrap paper: there are several cancelled and illegible lines of ink.

Metadata

Library References

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

Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers

Item title: Letter from Eleanor Glover (née Lenton) and Mary Glover to Mary Hamilton and John Dickenson

Shelfmark: HAM/1/13/41

Correspondence Details

Sender: Eleanor Glover (née Lenton) and Mary Glover

Place sent: Sunninghill

Addressee: Mary Hamilton and John Dickenson

Place received: Taxal, near Chapel-en-le-Frith

Date sent: October 1786

Letter Description

Summary: Letter from Mrs Eleanor Glover to Mary Hamilton, relating to Hamilton's pregnancy and Glover's concern for her safety. She also writes of Mr Bourdieu's daughter Mary who has been staying with them and of her sister Anna Maria who has been in Brussels for the past two years and has also come to them. Glover continues with news of her step-son, Richard Glover who she is not on speaking terms with and who although receiving fourteen thousand pounds since his father’s death seems to be in some distress and she has been told that he has moved from his lodgings into worse.
    Mary Glover adds a letter of her own to John Dickenson on the sheet thanking him for his letter and writing her concern for Hamilton’s safety. She also sends news of Hamilton's acquaintances. Mrs Delany is well but Princess Elizabeth is ill. Miss Clayton is soon to be married to Colonel Fox and Anna Maria Clarke returns to them soon.
    Dated at Sunning Hill.
    Original reference No. 20.
   

Length: 1 sheet, 970 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 19 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: 2 November 2021

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