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 contains news of the Royal family and society news, in particular the marrying of 'great fortune[s]'. It is also concerned with family news, including the Duke of Atholl's marriage and his children. Lady Amelia Cooke is staying with her brother, Lord George Murray, in Kent. The new Duchess of Atholl is described as being an elegant and pretty woman with a 'uniform and general great Character'. Her behaviour to her first husband, Lord Mcleod – who, she notes, was old enough to be her father – was everything that it should be. She reports on the health of the Duchess and of another relation, Miss Cathcart. The wealthy Lady Bath [Henrietta Laura Pulteney, 1st Baroness of Bath, Somerset (1766-1808), who had married her first cousin once removed, Colonel Rt. Hon. Sir James Murray-Pulteney (né Murray) of Dunerne, 7th Baronet (c.1759-1811) the previous month] has 'disposed of herself at last to her Cousin Sir James Murray [now Pulteney]'. The letter makes reference to the Prince of Wales and his mistress, Lady Jersey. Murray writes: 'the only odd thing is, that age should always prove so charming!'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter turns to politics. Murray writes that the whole world 'seems so involved in trouble and perplexity [...] that [...] nothing can ac[c]ount for it but that the Decrees of Providence are fullfilling in a way to[o] high for us to understand'. Murray reports that her husband now holds the position of Rear Admiral of the Red and has command at Halifax. He set sail for there last May and she has not heard anything from him as yet. She tries to keep herself amused with music and drawing and finds comfort in the adage that 'no news is good news'. She notes that the King looks very well but that the Queen and the Princess Royal both look thin. The other Royals look well although she thinks that the Prince of Wales and Duke of Clarence look 'much altered'. Prince Ernest is very tall and has his arm in a sling.</p>