The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Jane Holman to Mary Hamilton

Holman (née Hamilton), Jane

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter in French from Jane Hamilton to Mary Hamilton. She knows that she owes Mary a long letter and is now fulfilling that debt. She tells her that Anna Maria Clarke responded to the epistle that she sent her right away, which was lovely as she was certainly not expecting such a swift reply. She explains that, after informing Miss Clarke of Hamilton's visit, the lady said that she would like Mary to pay her a visit as well, but fears that the distance between them both is perhaps too great. She went to see her brother fifteen days ago and reports that he is in very good health, proving that staying in the countryside is doing him some good. He is getting plenty of exercise and is getting big and strong. She reminds Mary how unwell he often looked before he moved away. His schoolmaster is very happy with him and they are very happy with the school from what they managed to see in the short time they were there. She has also received a letter from her sister and both her and her children are doing very well.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Jane hopes that Mary will return to town soon; it seems that she has spent a long time in the country. If she is happy there, however, that will be some compensation for her absence. Her music is also coming along very well. She was delighted to hear from Anna Maria Clarke that Miss Glover is feeling better now she is out of the town and staying at Sunning Hill. She asks how her work is going and expects that Hamilton gets the chance to create lots of little pieces in her spare time. Her father has been to visit Lady Warwick, who has returned from Tunbridge, and the family often see General Clark, who visits them in the evenings.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>She admires Shakespeare more than ever and lists the works that have had the most profound effect on her to see if her cousin agrees: <i><i>The Tempest</i></i>, <i><i>The Merchant of Venice</i></i>, <i><i>The Winters Tale</i></i>, <i><i>King John</i></i> and some parts of <i><i>Measure for Measure</i></i>. Perhaps her cousin will find her expressing her opinions about the great Shakespeare so readily a little bold, but she assumes that, since her opinions are so positive, her cousin will excuse her impertinence.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The family have hired a new chambermaid as Ratcliffe is leaving them to get married, something that she is angry about but understands is inevitable.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at London.</p>