The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Wilhelmina Murray (née King) to Mary Hamilton

Murray (née King), Wilhelmina

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Wilhelmina Murray to Mary Hamilton. The letter relates to books and general news and gossip. Murray notes that Sir John Germaine was once an illiterate footman, who gained a great fortune and married highly. Neither his marriage nor his wealth made 'him a better scholar, nor a Gentleman', and when dying, a Doctor Clarke (a churchman) was called and 'found him total[l]y ignorant of every thing'. Dr Clarke read to him from the Bible. On being informed that Saint Matthew had written the sermon, Sir John, 'never having heard of any Saint, but a great deal of Sir Matthew his Neighbour', said 'I never thought he had been able to write so well'. Murray notes that there was an additional clause to Sir John's will, and that this addition may have come from this conversation.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Murray reports that Princess Elizabeth is ill. A story is circulating about what is to come of 'P.E.', who possibly 'stript the D Palace of Plate and valuables converted it into money and then set off for Italy'. She thanks Hamilton for her book suggestions and will try to get hold of them, although she fears for her success, as the Library at Perth is not very good and she generally finds it easier getting them from London than Edinburgh. She looks forward to the acquisition of Madame de Sévigné's Letters and believes that the style will show if they are genuine or not. The soon-to-be-published Memoirs of the late Duchess of Kingston 'if fairly well told, may be made not only amusing but interesting, as she had a busy life'. The letter continues on family news.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Original reference No. 5.</p>