Diplomatic Text
April 14.. 1782
In a short note written to tell you
I cou'd not go to you the last time I was to have
enjoyed that pleasure, I said I wou'd soon write
to you again. The moment is come my amiable
& let me add beloved Miʃs Hamilton, in which
I take the pen to perform my promise. Before
I enter on any particulars, let me thank you
for that place in your Friendship, which you
have unsollicited bestowed on me. I scruple not
to say unsollicited, because till very lately I knew
not the value of your exalted soul; else sh - ou'd
I have tried every means I cou'd, to have procured
the sacred union of Friendship, with so much
uncommon worth. I hesitate not to refer you to
the feelings of your own heart, to judge of
the high gratification mine must receive, from
feeling my- self poʃseʃsed of your affection, whilst
every moment I have lately enjoyed of your
your conversation has taught me the high value
of the acquisition. The generous confidence with
which you have treated me, banishes all reserve
to you from my heart, and I shall now enter
into a long detail concerning myself, without
one word of apology to a dear Friend, with whom
my heart earnestly wishes to form a friendly union,
which may last even beyond this worlds narrow
limits. Never my dearest Miʃs Hamilton have
I known any duration of real comfort. strange as
it may seeappear, my life has been a scene of
sorrow. A letter wou'd not contain the history of my
infant years, which however were so paʃsed as to
ruin both my health & spirits. From 12 years old
to eighteen, I lived in the severest solitude with
my father, and at that age was left with a large
fortune and without a Friend. The goodneʃs of
Heaven however gave me a Friend, by bringing the
excellent Dr Fothergill to attend my Father a few
days before his death. He took an affection to me,
which invariably lasted to the hour of his death.
He was the Guide the guardian Protector and Friend
Friend of my helpleʃs unexperienced youth
But whilst in his generous attachment, I
experienced all the charms of noble disinterested
affection, I suffered at home all that cruel tyranny
cou'd inflict, from the behaviour of a governeʃs
who had long lived with me, & whom I once had
reason to love. Oppreʃsed by every one with whom
I had ever been connected, I resolved firmly against
marriage and cherished bright ideas of independence,
which perhaps can not be realized, where bad health
and a heart insensible to every charm but what
arises from true affection, are united. At the moment
I was most smitten with independence, I was
forced to fly from my own house, to free my- self
from the ill usage of my governeʃs, and at
22 years of age had much difficulty in freeing
my- self from my slavery to her. About this time
I became acquainted with Mrs Carter, and entered
eagerly into the most enthusiastic attachment to
her. Her character justified me to my- self,
& her manners won my heart. I sacrificed every
thing to my feelings for her. My health every thought
thought every wish of my heart, was nothing, if
even a look from her stodod in competetion.
My life was very near the sacrifice to this,
enthusaism and wou'd probably have been so in
reality, if my terrible state of health & spirits had
not opened my eyes, and shown me that death
or infinitely worse wou'd befall me, if in some
degree I did not alter my mode of life. With
many a painful struggle I did this, but not without
paining & being pained. Yet I explained my
motives to Mrs C. for her happineʃs was, & ever
will be dear to my heart. During all my enthusaisme
my Guardian Angel Friend, so I may justly call
him, never forsook me. Uniformly steady for ten
years, did his exalted Friendship continue, & whilst
he lived, however disapointed in every other pursuit,
in his virtues my soul found ever a steady rock,
a support which nothing but worth like his
coud give. A little more than a year ago
I was for ever in this world deprived of my
excellent Friend.[1] When I think on his worth I
dare not be so selfish as to lament his loʃs. But
But a loʃs to me it has been beyond the power
of words to expreʃs. Since his death I have felt
a solitary creature in the midst of this gay
world. Mrs C.' uneasineʃs at my change in the
mode of my life, has become more and more
visible, and shed a chilling damp on our connection.
The last twelvemonth of my life tho' apparently
spent more gayly than usual, has been such as must
end in a broken heart or disturbed head if it were
long to continue. So far from independence, such is
the state of my mind, that I lean on every creature
I meet for support. After this confeʃsion, perhaps
you will not be surprised if I own I am likely to
place a dependence which I never thought I shou'd
on one. The person in question has not the
advantages either of youth or fortune to boast, but
you are above the maxims of the world, and will
allow real unaffected goodneʃs, to be the highest
recommendation any one can have. To a person
of my age, and a turn of mind leʃs singular
than mine, the disparity in years between Mr Beauvoir &
me, wou'd be a very strong objection but to me it is
far otherwise, and his having lived so many years
years in the steady practice of real goodneʃs, gives
me a security, which I shou'd find it very difficult
to feel with a younger man. I have known him
near seven years. and long viewed him with the
inattentive eye of a common acquaintance, till
his indulgent kindneʃs to his daughters, with whom
I have long been intimate drew my attention to
him, and several unforeseen circumstances proved
to me the true excellence of his heart. I valued
his virtues, and wished in him to find a Friend.
He behaved to me with great kindneʃs, for 2 or
3 years past, but I never suspected the least idea
in him of the connection likely to take place,
till a few months ago, and my answer was conformable
to my intentions of never marrying. Still I wished to
preserve him my Friend. He has never urged me to
change my resolution of remaining single, but my
own reflections have suggested to me, that my happineʃs
will in all human probability be promoted by
securing to my- self the support of a sure & certain
Friend. Happy in my present situation I am not,
I know I shall have your kindest wishes that I
may be so. An unhappy division has arisen between
between Mrs C & me, on this occasion, principally about Eliz,[2]
which I can not now explain, but I entreat you say not a
word concerning her and me to any one, nor let her
perceive you suspect the shadow of a coolneʃs between us.
Time I trust will reunite us, and I wou'd not have her
know I had mentioned this to any one, for the world.
My intention with regard to Eliz is to settle on
her 8000£ 4 to be paid on the day of her marriage,
and 4 on my decease. She is by her fathers desire
to go to Miʃs Moores school at Bristol, to finish her
education. Mrs O'Keeffe is to have an annuity
which I intended shou'd be 150 pr year, but by desire
of Mr B. is to be 200, settled on her during my life,
at the expiration of which, she is to receive 7000
& if any of her children marry before, each is to
have 1000 on the day of their marriage. I tell you
all this my love, because I have often seen your
wishes that I might act right in these matters
and I trust you will not disapprove my arrangements.
keep
the whole an inviolable secret from every one.
I shall remain here till some time in June
I have then a scheme to contrive to see you, which
I most earnestly wish. I will go to Windsor for a
few days if you can beg or borrow a few hours to
to paʃs with me. I shall not be able to go till
to wards the end of June. Think whether my scheme
is practicable. Adieu. Once more receive my
thanks for your affectionate Friendship, which I now
value, and shall ever treasure up, as truly dear to
the heart of
your
Sincerely Attached Friend
M. S.
Miʃs Beauvoirs are
to have appartments & a servant
to themselves. by mutual agreement
they and I are to be intirely independant
of each other. We know one another well.
and to live each without being a restraint
on the other, is the wish of all parties.
Mrs Cholmley is here and desires her love
to you -- & that I will say she much regrets
she cou'd not see you during her short stay in
town.
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. Dr John Fothergill died on 26 December 1780.
2. Naomi Pullin identifies ‘Eliz’ as Mr Beauvoir's daughter Betty (2021: 101), citing two letters from Elizabeth Carter to Mary Hamilton (see MS Eng 1778 17 and MS Eng 1778 23), but there is reason to doubt the identification.
Normalised Text
April 14.. 1782
In a short note written to tell you
I could not go to you the last time I was to have
enjoyed that pleasure, I said I would soon write
to you again. The moment is come my amiable
& let me add beloved Miss Hamilton, in which
I take the pen to perform my promise. Before
I enter on any particulars, let me thank you
for that place in your Friendship, which you
have unsolicited bestowed on me. I scruple not
to say unsolicited, because till very lately I knew
not the value of your exalted soul; else should
I have tried every means I could, to have procured
the sacred union of Friendship, with so much
uncommon worth. I hesitate not to refer you to
the feelings of your own heart, to judge of
the high gratification mine must receive, from
feeling my- self possessed of your affection, whilst
every moment I have lately enjoyed of
your conversation has taught me the high value
of the acquisition. The generous confidence with
which you have treated me, banishes all reserve
to you from my heart, and I shall now enter
into a long detail concerning myself, without
one word of apology to a dear Friend, with whom
my heart earnestly wishes to form a friendly union,
which may last even beyond this worlds narrow
limits. Never my dearest Miss Hamilton have
I known any duration of real comfort. strange as
it may appear, my life has been a scene of
sorrow. A letter would not contain the history of my
infant years, which however were so passed as to
ruin both my health & spirits. From 12 years old
to eighteen, I lived in the severest solitude with
my father, and at that age was left with a large
fortune and without a Friend. The goodness of
Heaven however gave me a Friend, by bringing the
excellent Dr Fothergill to attend my Father a few
days before his death. He took an affection to me,
which invariably lasted to the hour of his death.
He was the Guide the guardian Protector and
Friend of my helpless unexperienced youth
But whilst in his generous attachment, I
experienced all the charms of noble disinterested
affection, I suffered at home all that cruel tyranny
could inflict, from the behaviour of a governess
who had long lived with me, & whom I once had
reason to love. Oppressed by every one with whom
I had ever been connected, I resolved firmly against
marriage and cherished bright ideas of independence,
which perhaps can not be realized, where bad health
and a heart insensible to every charm but what
arises from true affection, are united. At the moment
I was most smitten with independence, I was
forced to fly from my own house, to free my- self
from the ill usage of my governess, and at
22 years of age had much difficulty in freeing
my- self from my slavery to her. About this time
I became acquainted with Mrs Carter, and entered
eagerly into the most enthusiastic attachment to
her. Her character justified me to my- self,
& her manners won my heart. I sacrificed every
thing to my feelings for her. My health every
thought every wish of my heart, was nothing, if
even a look from her stood in competition.
My life was very near the sacrifice to this,
enthusiasm and would probably have been so in
reality, if my terrible state of health & spirits had
not opened my eyes, and shown me that death
or infinitely worse would befall me, if in some
degree I did not alter my mode of life. With
many a painful struggle I did this, but not without
paining & being pained. Yet I explained my
motives to Mrs Carter for her happiness was, & ever
will be dear to my heart. During all my enthusiasm
my Guardian Angel Friend, so I may justly call
him, never forsook me. Uniformly steady for ten
years, did his exalted Friendship continue, & whilst
he lived, however disappointed in every other pursuit,
in his virtues my soul found ever a steady rock,
a support which nothing but worth like his
could give. A little more than a year ago
I was for ever in this world deprived of my
excellent Friend. When I think on his worth I
dare not be so selfish as to lament his loss.
But a loss to me it has been beyond the power
of words to express. Since his death I have felt
a solitary creature in the midst of this gay
world. Mrs Carter' uneasiness at my change in the
mode of my life, has become more and more
visible, and shed a chilling damp on our connection.
The last twelvemonth of my life though apparently
spent more gaily than usual, has been such as must
end in a broken heart or disturbed head if it were
long to continue. So far from independence, such is
the state of my mind, that I lean on every creature
I meet for support. After this confession, perhaps
you will not be surprised if I own I am likely to
place a dependence which I never thought I should
on one. The person in question has not the
advantages either of youth or fortune to boast, but
you are above the maxims of the world, and will
allow real unaffected goodness, to be the highest
recommendation any one can have. To a person
of my age, and a turn of mind less singular
than mine, the disparity in years between Mr Beauvoir &
me, would be a very strong objection but to me it is
far otherwise, and his having lived so many
years in the steady practice of real goodness, gives
me a security, which I should find it very difficult
to feel with a younger man. I have known him
near seven years. and long viewed him with the
inattentive eye of a common acquaintance, till
his indulgent kindness to his daughters, with whom
I have long been intimate drew my attention to
him, and several unforeseen circumstances proved
to me the true excellence of his heart. I valued
his virtues, and wished in him to find a Friend.
He behaved to me with great kindness, for 2 or
3 years past, but I never suspected the least idea
in him of the connection likely to take place,
till a few months ago, and my answer was conformable
to my intentions of never marrying. Still I wished to
preserve him my Friend. He has never urged me to
change my resolution of remaining single, but my
own reflections have suggested to me, that my happiness
will in all human probability be promoted by
securing to my- self the support of a sure & certain
Friend. Happy in my present situation I am not,
I know I shall have your kindest wishes that I
may be so. An unhappy division has arisen
between Mrs Carter & me, on this occasion, principally about Eliz,
which I can not now explain, but I entreat you say not a
word concerning her and me to any one, nor let her
perceive you suspect the shadow of a coolness between us.
Time I trust will reunite us, and I would not have her
know I had mentioned this to any one, for the world.
My intention with regard to Eliz is to settle on
her 8000£ 4 to be paid on the day of her marriage,
and 4 on my decease. She is by her fathers desire
to go to Miss Moores school at Bristol, to finish her
education. Mrs O'Keeffe is to have an annuity
which I intended should be 150 per year, but by desire
of Mr Beauvoir is to be 200, settled on her during my life,
at the expiration of which, she is to receive 7000
& if any of her children marry before, each is to
have 1000 on the day of their marriage. I tell you
all this my love, because I have often seen your
wishes that I might act right in these matters
and I trust you will not disapprove my arrangements.
keep
the whole an inviolable secret from every one.
I shall remain here till some time in June
I have then a scheme to contrive to see you, which
I most earnestly wish. I will go to Windsor for a
few days if you can beg or borrow a few hours
to pass with me. I shall not be able to go till
to wards the end of June. Think whether my scheme
is practicable. Adieu. Once more receive my
thanks for your affectionate Friendship, which I now
value, and shall ever treasure up, as truly dear to
the heart of
your
Sincerely Attached Friend
Mary Sharpe
Miss Beauvoirs are
to have apartments & a servant
to themselves. by mutual agreement
they and I are to be entirely independent
of each other. We know one another well.
and to live each without being a restraint
on the other, is the wish of all parties.
Mrs Cholmley is here and desires her love
to you -- & that I will say she much regrets
she could not see you during her short stay in
town.
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 Mary Sharpe (later Beauvoir) to Mary Hamilton
Shelfmark: HAM/1/22/43
Correspondence Details
Sender: Mary Beauvoir (née Sharpe, later Douglas)
Place sent: Bath (certainty: medium)
Addressee: Mary Hamilton
Place received: to be determined
Date sent: 14 April 1782
Letter Description
Summary: Letter from Mary Sharpe to Mary Hamilton. Sharpe writes on her engagement to marry. She also writes on the value she places on her friendship with Hamilton and on her relationship with Elizabeth Carter.
Sharpe notes that she has never 'known any duration of real comfort. strange as it may appear'. Her life has been 'a scene of sorrow'. She notes that her early years affected both her health and spirits. From the age of twelve to eighteen she lived in the 'severest solitude with my father'. Although left with a large fortune, she had no friend at home and a governess whom she once loved treated her with 'tyranny'. Sharpe resolved that she would never marry and would live a life of independence, as in her short experience she had been '[o]ppressed by every one with whom I had ever been connected'. The time when she was most 'smitten' with the idea of independence, she was forced to leave her house to escape the ill-treatment of her governess 'and at 22 years of age had much difficulty in freeing my- self from my slavery to her'. It was at this time that Sharpe became acquainted with Elizabeth Carter, to whom she quickly became attached. 'Her character justified me to my- self, & her manners won my heart'. Sharpe writes that she 'sacrificed every thing to my feelings for her'. Sharpe's own poor health and spirits had opened her eyes and shown her 'that death or infinitely worse wou[l]d befall me, if in some degree I did not alter my mode of life'. With much struggle she did so. The letter continues on her life and the loss of a friend she considered to be her 'guardian Angel' [a Dr Fothergill], after which Carter became anxious about the change this caused in Sharpe.
Over the last year, Sharpe notes, far from being independent, she has been more dependent on others for support. After confessing this to Hamilton, she hopes that she will not be too surprised at a decision she never thought she would take, namely to marry. The person in question [Mr Beauvoir] is neither young nor wealthy. The difference in age might be an objection to a 'mind less singular than mine'. To her his age and his 'goodness' gives her a sense of security. Sharpe has known Beauvoir for seven years and has long been a friend to his daughters. The letter continues on the proposed marriage and its effect on Sharpe's relationship with Mrs Carter. 'An unhappy division has arisen between Mrs C & me, on this occasion, principally about Eliz' [probably Mr Beauvoir's daughter Betty]. She asks Hamilton not to mention this 'coolness' between them to anyone and hopes that in time they will be reconciled. Sharpe intends to settle £8000 on 'Eliz', £4000 on the day of her marriage and £4000 on Sharpe's death. 'She is by her fathers desire to go to Miss Moore's school at Bristol'. She is to give an annuity to Mrs O'Keefe (see HAM/1/22/13) of £200 to be settled on her during Sharpe's lifetime and £7000 on her death. Sharpe will also settle money on Mrs O'Keefe's daughters when they marry.
Sharpe ends her letter noting that by mutual agreement the Miss Beauvoirs are to be independent from her and to have their own servant and apartment. 'We know one another well and to live each without being a restraint on the other, is the wish of all parties'.
Dated at North Parade.
Length: 2 sheets, 1561 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: XML version first created without transcription as part of project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers', funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council under grant AH/S007121/1. Transcription added after the funded period under the supervision of David Denison and Nuria Yáñez-Bouza.
Transliterator: Pete Morris, Artificial Intelligence and Ideas Adoption (AIIA), The University of Manchester Library (Plain text transliteration submitted 22 May 2025)
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: 7 July 2026
