The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Frederick Hamilton to Mary Hamilton

Hamilton, Frederick

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Rev. Frederick Hamilton to Mary Hamilton. The letter relates to news of the birth of a second son to Lord and Lady Stormont [David Murray, seventh Viscount Stormont and second earl of Mansfield (1727-1796), diplomatist and politician (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/18'>HAM/1/18</a>), and Louisa Cathcart (?1758-1843), daughter of Charles Schaw Cathcart, ninth Lord Cathcart and Hamilton's cousin]. Frederick Hamilton feels neglected that the Stormonts had not informed him of this news themselves. He writes that while in London, the Stormonts had honoured him with some attention but that he was now 'not worthy of its continu[ation] and that the old system was return[e]d to'. He nevertheless did what was right and proper and wrote his congratulations and received a 'civil' reply. The letter continues that he is unsure as to the intentions of the Stormonts towards him.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Frederick Hamilton makes reference to the Gordon Riots [after George Gordon called for the repeal of the Catholic Act of 1778 which was enacted to revoke anti-Catholic legislation from the previous century, Gordon led a crowd of 60,000 protestors to the House of Commons to present a petition, and anti-Catholic riots spread across London, resulting in the destruction of property and businesses and the deaths and arrests of many people] and was initially anxious that such a riot would happen in Dublin but reports that precautions were put in place to help prevent it.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter continues with news on his family.</p>