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

Hamilton, Henry

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Henry Hamilton to Mary Hamilton. The letter contains general news and Hamilton’s views on life. He wishes he could accept her invitation to visit Derbyshire which is an area that he is attached to. The letter continues on his memories of some of the landscape of Derbyshire. He writes of his cousin Mary Hamilton and her family and asks if Louisa plays alone or has she now a brother or sister. Hamilton is now 58 years old and not half as happy 'as if I had a complaint of the right sort' and he cares little about what people say or think. He describes himself as an old and unmarried and he is a great admirer of all that is commendable for instance the 'sweetness of flowers makes me religious'. He knows that he is impatient and old bachelor and the thought of this possibility he does not find flattering. His servants have been with him for 14, 8 and 6 years. He has a fine garden and some pleasant society which remind him of times past. The views of the Islands are beautiful and singular but do not make him wish to draw the landscapes as he did when he was in Dovedale and Matlock. He suggests areas for Hamilton to visit in Derbyshire and describes Chatsworth as 'a tiresome piece of old dignity and bad taste'.</p>