Single Letter

HAM/1/15/2/19

Letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Margaret Gunning

Diplomatic Text


16

                                                         Babel[1] -- 1781 --
      8th August
      1781
This is the 8th. of August & Your two dear letters
of July 23d. & 28th remain unanswer'd -- I have
very good reasons to give for my silence -- the Illneʃs
of Elise, wch. obliges me to be in constant attendance
-- Journeys to Leuctra, & Accapulco[2] -- thinking
------------------------ feeling quite exhausted wth-
wth- fatigue at night (otherwise I might sometimes
write a few lines before I go to bed -- but then ye.
busineʃs of ye.. day does not close till past 11 --
& begins at 6, I can never get to bed before 12 for I sleep in Atoʃsas room &c
&c.) I waited likewise as I wanted to find
out for You, where Mercury's[3] day was to be kept;
& after every enquiry I can only inform You
that it is thought it will not be kept, as he
is absent -- but that there will be a Synod held,
wch. will of course be a very ------ full one, as
all the People invited to the Fête on P. W.'s
day will be there;[4] -- I am sorry to tell you
that ye. conduct of Helen & her daughter is
become the common topic of conversation; I



really have not time to enter into particulars,
but I must say that I greatly rejoice you
were at a distance & not of their parties to
Babel -- they have not miʃs'd one afternoon
coming over -- Helen is highly blam'd, & though
I do not mean to be the judge of her actions,
I cannot help thinking her both imprudent
& weak. The Germans are gone out of England
whether she deserves it or no, I know not, but
her character is ruined -- in this family her
name has never been mention'd since their
abrupt departure. Ah! my AstreaFriend what profit
& instruction one gains, if one has any turn
for reflection, by living in such a school
as this -- & what comfort to poʃseʃs a clear conscience
I do not presumptuously however imagine that
I am more perfect than others & therefore leʃs
liable to err -- I am but too sensible of the
weakneʃs & imperfection of human Nature,
but I constantly implore the protection of our



almighty Father, (& to those who call upon him)
friend & protector, to guard my erring Soul.
do you remember some sweet lines in Mrs. Carters
Poems?
“If by the days illusive Scenes misled,
“My Erring Soul from Virtues path has stray'd:
“If by example snar'd, by Paʃsion warm'd,
“Some false delight my Giddy sense has charm'd
“My calmer thoughts the wretched choice reprove,
“And my best hopes are center'd in thy love.
“Deprived of this, can life one joy afford?!
“It's utmost boast, a vain unmeaning word,” --
“All powerful Grace, exert thy gentle sway,
“And teach my rebel Paʃsions to obey,
“Lest lurking folly wth. insidious Art
“Regain my volatile inconstant Heart. &c:

How are You my Dear friend in Health? I
was greatly concern'd to find your old complaint
was return'd, & from the stile of your last letter
I have my apprehensions that you secretly
cherish a recollections that depreʃs yor. Spirits.



to what else can I impute the melancholy that
hangs over You -- surrounded as you are at present
with every thing one that is dear to you except
Your Miranda, & though she has not the comfort
of being with You, or near You, aʃsured of her
affection & the sincerity of her friendship -- open
you heart to me, ease my anxiety -- or let me share
your sorrows.      Hero is not yet come -- I have
had another meʃsage from her -- a verbal enquiry --
the windows of her apartments are open, & I think
they appear to be making preparations for her coming.
I will not fail to take the earliest opportunity of
seeing her when she does, & of saying every thing
proper for you.      Louise has sent You Klopstock[5]
from Hanover, ye. German General is return'd & told
me this Morng. he had brought it for you.
Adieu my Drst. friend -- I write in haste -- give
my best Compts. to B & Is.   I enclose the list
of those invited to Orions Fête.
Perfecta has written me two letters -- her Sons health gains ground
but slowly -- her married daughter -- & my Cousins were taken
prisoners in their return to England & are at present in Spain.[6] Adieu.

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Notes


 1. The court at Windsor.
 2. Mary Hamilton and her close friends had various code words for places at Court, including 'Babel' (at Windsor), 'Louvre' (probably St James's), 'Accapulco' and 'Leuctra'.
 3. 'Mercury' is presumably Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827).
 4. The Prince of Wales' birthday was on 12 August, so a few days after this letter and before the Synod, which was planned for 16 August (see HAM/1/15/2/18).
 5. Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724-1803), German poet. He is best known for his epic poem 'Der Messias' ('The Messiah'), published 1748-1773, to which this probably refers.
 6. See HAM/1/12/32.

Normalised Text



                                                         Babel -- 1781 --
      8th August
      1781
This is the 8th. of August & Your two dear letters
of July 23d. & 28th remain unanswered -- I have
very good reasons to give for my silence -- the Illness
of Elise, which obliges me to be in constant attendance
-- Journeys to Leuctra, & Accapulco --
feeling quite exhausted
with fatigue at night (otherwise I might sometimes
write a few lines before I go to bed -- but then the
business of the day does not close till past 11 --
& begins at 6, I can never get to bed before 12 for I sleep in Atossas room &c
&c.) I waited likewise as I wanted to find
out for You, where Mercury's day was to be kept;
& after every enquiry I can only inform You
that it is thought it will not be kept, as he
is absent -- but that there will be a Synod held,
which will of course be a very full one, as
all the People invited to the Fête on Prince Wales's
day will be there; -- I am sorry to tell you
that the conduct of Helen & her daughter is
become the common topic of conversation; I



really have not time to enter into particulars,
but I must say that I greatly rejoice you
were at a distance & not of their parties to
Babel -- they have not missed one afternoon
coming over -- Helen is highly blamed, & though
I do not mean to be the judge of her actions,
I cannot help thinking her both imprudent
& weak. The Germans are gone out of England
whether she deserves it or no, I know not, but
her character is ruined -- in this family her
name has never been mentioned since their
abrupt departure. Ah! my Friend what profit
& instruction one gains, if one has any turn
for reflection, by living in such a school
as this -- & what comfort to possess a clear conscience
I do not presumptuously however imagine that
I am more perfect than others & therefore less
liable to err -- I am but too sensible of the
weakness & imperfection of human Nature,
but I constantly implore the protection of our



almighty Father, (& to those who call upon him)
friend & protector, to guard my erring Soul.
do you remember some sweet lines in Mrs. Carters
Poems?
“If by the days illusive Scenes misled,
“My Erring Soul from Virtues path has stray'd:
“If by example snar'd, by Passion warm'd,
“Some false delight my Giddy sense has charm'd
“My calmer thoughts the wretched choice reprove,
“And my best hopes are center'd in thy love.
“Deprived of this, can life one joy afford!
“It's utmost boast, a vain unmeaning word,” --
“All powerful Grace, exert thy gentle sway,
“And teach my rebel Passions to obey,
“Lest lurking folly with insidious Art
“Regain my volatile inconstant Heart. &c:

How are You my Dear friend in Health? I
was greatly concerned to find your old complaint
was returned, & from the style of your last letter
I have my apprehensions that you secretly
cherish recollections that depress your Spirits.



to what else can I impute the melancholy that
hangs over You -- surrounded as you are at present
with every one that is dear to you except
Your Miranda, & though she has not the comfort
of being with You, or near You, assured of her
affection & the sincerity of her friendship -- open
your heart to me, ease my anxiety -- or let me share
your sorrows.      Hero is not yet come -- I have
had another message from her -- a verbal enquiry --
the windows of her apartments are open, & I think
they appear to be making preparations for her coming.
I will not fail to take the earliest opportunity of
seeing her when she does, & of saying every thing
proper for you.      Louise has sent You Klopstock
from Hanover, the German General is returned & told
me this Morning he had brought it for you.
Adieu my Dearest friend -- I write in haste -- give
my best Compliments to Benedict & Isabella   I enclose the list
of those invited to Orions Fête.
Perfecta has written me two letters -- her Sons health gains ground
but slowly -- her married daughter -- & my Cousins were taken
prisoners in their return to England & are at present in Spain. Adieu.

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quotations,
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 1. The court at Windsor.
 2. Mary Hamilton and her close friends had various code words for places at Court, including 'Babel' (at Windsor), 'Louvre' (probably St James's), 'Accapulco' and 'Leuctra'.
 3. 'Mercury' is presumably Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827).
 4. The Prince of Wales' birthday was on 12 August, so a few days after this letter and before the Synod, which was planned for 16 August (see HAM/1/15/2/18).
 5. Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724-1803), German poet. He is best known for his epic poem 'Der Messias' ('The Messiah'), published 1748-1773, to which this probably refers.
 6. See HAM/1/12/32.

Metadata

Library References

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

Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers

Item title: Letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Margaret Gunning

Shelfmark: HAM/1/15/2/19

Correspondence Details

Sender: Mary Hamilton

Place sent: Windsor

Addressee: Charlotte Margaret Digby (née Gunning)

Place received: unknown

Date sent: 8 August 1781

Letter Description

Summary: Letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Gunning, concerning Hamilton's position at Court. She is often too exhausted to write as her day does not finish until 11 but starts at 6. She does not go to sleep until at least 12 as she sleeps in 'Atossa's' room. Hamilton has not been able to find out is 'Mercury's' [code name for another Court member] day is to be kept which Gunning had asked her to find out. She notes that she can only inform her 'that it is thought it will not be kept, as he is about but that there will be a Synad held wh[i]ch will of course be a very full one, as all the People invited to the Féte on P of W's day will be there'. She writes about the conduct of a woman named 'Helen' and her daughter at court and that the 'Germans are gone out of England' and since their departure 'her' name as not been mentioned by the family [it is not clear if 'the Germans' and the 'family' relates to the royal family]. She suggests that it is quite an 'instruction one gains by living in such a school'. Hamilton writes what comfort it is to possess a clear conscience as she does not imagine 'that I am more perfect than others & therefore less liable to err'. She is aware of weakness and imperfection and quotes some lines of poetry written by Elizabeth Carter.
    Hamilton continues her letter by enquiring about Gunning’s health and notes that 'Perfecta' [Lady Charlotte Finch] has written her two letters informing her of the improved health of her son and that her married daughter [Mrs Fielding (see HAM/1/7/5)] and Hamilton's cousins, the Grahams 'were taken prisoners in their return to England'.
    Dated at Babel.
    Original reference No. 16.
   

Length: 1 sheet, 726 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 8 October 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: 22 December 2021

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