The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Reverend Archibald Hamilton Cathcart to Mary Hamilton

Cathcart, Archibald Hamilton

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Rev. Hon. Archibald Hamilton Cathcart to Mary Hamilton. The letter conveys general family news. Cathcart is to visit Hamilton next month and he reports that his brother has finished 'the difficult business' and 'with a hand so masterly that History will perpetuate the recollection of it'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>[By 1807, Cathcart's brother, William Schaw Cathcart, was Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in Scotland, although much of his tenure was taken up with actions on the Continent. In the latter part of this year there was a fear that the French might attempt to commandeer the Danish Fleet then at Copenhagen, and Cathcart was sent to the area to take over the fleet and gain control of the city. After the Danes refused to surrender, the city was laid siege to and the British took control. Cathcart was awarded a peerage on his return.]</p>