Diplomatic Text
[1]
9.
Nov 28th 831783 Dover St- London[2]
My dearest Friend,
I have at last stolen half an Hour
to write to you, and had I been the Regulator of my
own time, you should have heard from me several
often before now, but I have been so taken up of late that
it has made it utterly impoʃsible. I just now sat down
with a stedfast Resolution to scl scold, and and bluster
a little, but the attempt is vain, and I find my Heart
open only to softer emotions. How can you be so cruel
as to stay in the Country from us 3 Weeks.! If you
did but know the mortification I receive by your absence
I am sure you would pity me; perhaps -- but I will
curb that presumptuous thought, and not suffer my=
=self to be hurried away by it. I think I never experienced
more pleasure than when I heard we were to remain
in town till Christmas; but how was that all
overset, when a few Hours afterwards I learned by a
Letter you wrote Miʃs Gunning, that you was to remain
at Bulstrode. I wish the Dutcheʃs would content herself
with her shells and foʃsils, and not monopolize my
dear Friend; but I believe I am only blameing in her
what I should be happy to do myself had I it in my Power.
If you have any Love, pity, or compaʃsion for me, pray return
soon, and if you leave pleasanter scenes than what
you come to, you will have at least this Consolation,
that you bring happineʃs to many I dare say, and I am
sure I can answer for one. But since you have been
so kind as to say that you take some little interest
in me, I will pro proceed to inform you of some of
my Proceedings since you left us. I have spent my
time very agreeably, I would say happily was I but
bleʃsed with your company. My me mornings are
spent as usual in Study, and as I have my Mare
in Town I employ the time from about 2 o clock
till 3½ in riding in Hyde Park, where I have generally
the pleasure of meeting the Prince of Wales, who is as
constant as I am. I have Spent most of my Evenings
after Tea from Home. So there is a short stretch
of - my day, every Hour of which I have considered
as lost time, since I am deprived of the Company
of her whose society I count above every thing else.
I have never once been able to bring myself to call on Miʃs Clark
tho' I have often intended it. I cannot go near your
House till you return. I have forgot to tell you
that Mr. C—— and I have got very comfortable Apart
:ments in our new Mansion, having a very good
Room on the ground Floor for our Studies, and
2 exceeding good Bed chambers above, in short
we have by far the best part of the House. I heard
of your your Welfare, the other Evening from Mrs
Boscawen who had just left you, and I met ------
W Hamilton the other day in the City tho I ------------
recollect him till I had paʃsed him, if I had I
would certainly have spoke to him, and requested
him to fetch he you away from Bulstrode. My
Pen is not able to convey the Sentiments of my Heart,
but I hope by this time you are not a perfect
stranger to them, yet I cannot help aʃsuring you
that there is nobody that I have so sincere a Love
and Respect for, and which I hope I shall for ever
shew in all my Actions. Time will not permit me to say
more, and I must reluctantly conclude. Adieu.
most ------ amiable of Women
and believe me to be your most
sincere & affectionate Friend --
I am afraid that you cannot
read this, as it is wrote in
such haste, but I would not let slip
the opportunity tho I had so little time
I shall entreat you to answer this in Person;[3]
How grieved I was I could not call upon you the Morning you
went it was impoʃsible, do not think it was any neglect, for
I wanted much to see you and speak with you. I now look
forward to nothing but Scenes of happineʃs, do not you destroy
them all. I envy every Body who I see with those they most Love and
think how different is my Lot. Mr C. and Mr A—— L—— D—— L—— W. for instance
▼
I am going to attend Mr. Walkers Philosophical Lectures from[4]
I hope to receive much pleasure, would you were of the party.
I shall not expect an answer fromto this, but I hope to see
you in a few days; pray send me word thro' some Channel
when I am may expect you. I could write forever would my time & Paper last -- [5]
You must excuse the form of the Letter
for convenience.[6]
[7]
[8]
Miʃs Hamilton --
at the Dutcheʃs of Portlands
Bulstrode Park[9]
Gerards Croʃs.
Bucks- [10]
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. Although catalogued with letters from Frances Harpur, this letter is written by William Wake. An examination of HAM/1/8/8/10 and HAM/1/8/8/11 shows that Wake's letters to Hamilton have been numbered, and that the numbering jumps from ‘8’ (HAM/1/8/8/10) to ‘11’ (HAM/1/8/8/11); this letter (numbered ‘9’) and HAM/1/16/17 (numbered ‘10’) restore order to the run of letters. Wake's letters from November 1783 to January 1784 show that he was living in London at the time and match the location of the writing of this letter. Furthermore, the evidence of the salutations, punctuation and handwriting in this letter and HAM/1/16/17 confirms that the writer is William Wake rather than Frances Harpur.
2. There is some uncertainty as to date and indeed as to writer(s) of the dateline. Note that the post stamp on the address states 27 November, the likely date of sending. The date here has been taken to be the date of receipt.
3. These five lines appear to the left of the closing salutation.
4. The word which is needed here.
5. These five lines are written upside down at the bottom of the page.
6. These two lines are written vertically to the left of the address panel.
7. Remains of seal, in red wax, above and below address.
8. Stamp dated 27 November.
9. Large manuscript figure '2' two lines deep, denoting postage due.
10. Moved address here from middle of page, written vertically.
Normalised Text
Dover Street
My dearest Friend,
I have at last stolen half an Hour
to write to you, and had I been the Regulator of my
own time, you should have heard from me
often before now, but I have been so taken up of late that
it has made it utterly impossible. I just now sat down
with a steadfast Resolution to scold, and bluster
a little, but the attempt is vain, and I find my Heart
open only to softer emotions. How can you be so cruel
as to stay in the Country from us 3 Weeks.! If you
did but know the mortification I receive by your absence
I am sure you would pity me; perhaps -- but I will
curb that presumptuous thought, and not suffer myself
to be hurried away by it. I think I never experienced
more pleasure than when I heard we were to remain
in town till Christmas; but how was that all
overset, when a few Hours afterwards I learned by a
Letter you wrote Miss Gunning, that you was to remain
at Bulstrode. I wish the Duchess would content herself
with her shells and fossils, and not monopolize my
dear Friend; but I believe I am only blaming in her
what I should be happy to do myself had I it in my Power.
If you have any Love, pity, or compassion for me, pray return
soon, and if you leave pleasanter scenes than what
you come to, you will have at least this Consolation,
that you bring happiness to many I dare say, and I am
sure I can answer for one. But since you have been
so kind as to say that you take some little interest
in me, I will proceed to inform you of some of
my Proceedings since you left us. I have spent my
time very agreeably, I would say happily was I but
blessed with your company. My mornings are
spent as usual in Study, and as I have my Mare
in Town I employ the time from about 2 o'clock
till 3½ in riding in Hyde Park, where I have generally
the pleasure of meeting the Prince of Wales, who is as
constant as I am. I have Spent most of my Evenings
after Tea from Home. So there is a short stretch
of my day, every Hour of which I have considered
as lost time, since I am deprived of the Company
of her whose society I count above every thing else.
I have never once been able to bring myself to call on Miss Clark
though I have often intended it. I cannot go near your
House till you return. I have forgotten to tell you
that Mr. Catton and I have got very comfortable Apartments
in our new Mansion, having a very good
Room on the ground Floor for our Studies, and
2 exceeding good Bed chambers above, in short
we have by far the best part of the House. I heard
of your Welfare, the other Evening from Mrs
Boscawen who had just left you, and I met ------
William Hamilton the other day in the City though I ------------
recollect him till I had passed him, if I had I
would certainly have spoken to him, and requested
him to fetch you away from Bulstrode. My
Pen is not able to convey the Sentiments of my Heart,
but I hope by this time you are not a perfect
stranger to them, yet I cannot help assuring you
that there is nobody that I have so sincere a Love
and Respect for, and which I hope I shall for ever
show in all my Actions. Time will not permit me to say
more, and I must reluctantly conclude. Adieu.
most amiable of Women
and believe me to be your most
sincere & affectionate Friend --
I am afraid that you cannot
read this, as it is written in
such haste, but I would not let slip
the opportunity though I had so little time
I shall entreat you to answer this in Person;
How grieved I was I could not call upon you the Morning you
went it was impossible, do not think it was any neglect, for
I wanted much to see you and speak with you. I now look
forward to nothing but Scenes of happiness, do not you destroy
them all. I envy every Body who I see with those they most Love and
think how different is my Lot. Mr C. and Mr A—— L—— D—— L—— W. for instance
▼
I am going to attend Mr. Walkers Philosophical Lectures from
I hope to receive much pleasure, would you were of the party.
I shall not expect an answer to this, but I hope to see
you in a few days; pray send me word through some Channel
when I may expect you. I could write forever would my time & Paper last --
You must excuse the form of the Letter
for convenience.
Miss Hamilton --
at the Duchess of Portlands
Bulstrode Park
Gerards Cross.
Buckinghamshire
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 William Wake to Mary Hamilton
Shelfmark: HAM/1/16/16
Correspondence Details
Sender: Wake,
Place sent: London
Addressee: Mary Hamilton
Place received: Gerrards Cross
Date sent: 27 November 1783
when 27 November 1783 (precision: medium)
Letter Description
Summary: Letter from William Wake to Mary Hamilton. Wake writes of his disappointment at not seeing Hamilton and with general news of society and friends. Wake writes that he has at last time to write to Hamilton and asks how Hamilton can be so cruel as to stay in the country and away from Wake for three weeks. He notes his pleasure when it was decided that she was to stay in town until Christmas, only to be disappointed when he learned that Hamilton was to remain in Bulstrode [the residence of the Duchess of Portland]. Wake wishes that the Duchess would interest herself 'with her shells and fossils, and not monopolize my dear friend'. Though he admits that he is blaming the Duchess only for that he wishes to do himself.
The letter continues on how Wake spends his time whilst in London. He attends lectures and often rides in the Park, where he 'generally has the pleasure of meeting the Prince of Wales'. He notes that Mrs Boscawen (HAM/1/6/1) spoke of Hamilton and that Wake saw W[illiam] Hamilton in the city although he did not recall him until he had passed him. If he had spoken with him he would have requested him to bring Hamilton back from Bulstrode. He continues that as yet he has not been able to bring himself to call on Miss Clark[e], although he has intended to do so, as he does not want to go near Hamilton's house until he is back home.
Dated at Dover Street, [London].
Original reference No. 9.
Length: 1 sheet, 845 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: Kanwal Habib, MA student, Uppsala University (submitted 31 August 2022)
Transliterator: Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, editorial team (completed 3 October 2022)
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: 28 November 2022