The Mary Hamilton Papers : Journal-letter from John Dickenson to Mary Hamilton, with a letter from Hannah More to Mary Hamilton

Dickenson, John, More, Hannah

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Journal-letter from John Dickenson to his wife Mary née Hamilton covering the period 20-22 February 1786. He writes of the friends and acquaintances he meets in London including Mrs Carter and Miss Gunning and of his attending a Bas Bleu evening at Mrs Vesey’s. He called on Miss Gunning in St James’s and sat with her for one and a half hours – and she seemed glad to see him. He reports that she said that every time she met a ‘certain gentleman’ he always asked about Hamilton, although he was married and that a ‘certain Lady’ has ruined her ‘reputation by taking notice of a woman who she knows lives in an open avowed state of adultery’. Dickenson also met with Mrs Glover and visited Miss Goldsworthy at Queen’s Lodge. He also met with Sir Joshua Reynolds and called on Dr and Frances Burney but they were not at home.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Included in the letter is a sheet written by Hannah More to Hamilton in which she talks of Horace Walpole. Dickenson had brought his unfinished letter to the party given by Mrs Vesey and invited her to write a few words on a blank page for Hamilton. More writes that she is ‘delighted’ with Hamilton’s ‘husband because he is in love with his wife’. She continues that she is taking advantage of Hamilton’s absence by attempting to ‘supplant you in the heart of Mr Walpole as fast as possible’. She has spent an evening with him and he wishes her to ‘save my reputation’ so she has invited Mrs Vesey and Mrs Carter to be of the party. The letter is incomplete and ends abruptly at the end of the sheet.</p>