The Mary Hamilton Papers : Journal-letter from John Dickenson to Mary Hamilton

Dickenson, John

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Journal-letter from John Dickenson to his wife Mary née Hamilton. The letter relates to Dickenson's time in Bath. He visits the pump room to examine the list of arrivals and writes on the people he visited and met with, including Mrs Holyroyd, who is at present attending to an old woman 'who is very anxious to die, which She has been in constant expectation of for a considerable time'. He writes about attending a dinner given by a Mr Cox, whose fortune is £16000 per annum and whom he describes as a 'very large Man [...] [and] weighs 22 Stone at least, seems active [...] [and] would have been handsome but for his under Lip'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>He called at his friends the Rundells and Mrs Milnes, whose daughter told him that it would be 'prejudicial' to his health to 'read or write or to be much occupied whilst [...] drinking the water', though she changed her mind on this when Dickenson began to read a book to her and her mother that she had recommended to him on the history of the 'late revolution in Holland'. He promised them that he would visit Holland when he can.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter also relates to general news of friends and acquaintances. He write of his pleasure of meeting Mr Sackville in the pump room, who is unwell and is to take the waters at Bath for a week to ten days. Dickenson notes the death of Lady Herries' sister and informs Hamilton that she 'bears up under this affliction wonderfully'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Original reference No. 5.</p>