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 concerns the death of Robert Hamilton, Frederick Hamilton's son. For the past twenty years, writes Frederick , he has been 'agitated with the bitter reflection that I was the parent of as worthless a being as could exist'. His son had returned from Copenhagen with a woman purporting to be his wife. Frederick does not believe the marriage had taken place although they had been living together for thirteen years and she has cared for him through his many illnesses. Although Frederick had frequently given his son money, Robert had died insolvent, leaving a great amount of debt. An example of his extravagance was a contract worth £1200 for the building of a sailing vessel. After reconsidering this deal he later persuaded the builder to release him from the contract at a cost of £200. In the meantime Frederick does not want to leave this woman to starve in a country she does not know and where she has no friends.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Bath.</p>