The Mary Hamilton Papers : Draft letter from Mary Hamilton to Frances Burney
Hamilton, Mary
The Mary Hamilton Papers
<p style='text-align: justify;'>Draft letter from Mary Hamilton to Fanny Burney, relating to the King's illness. The fair copy can be seen in NYPL 526189(1).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Hamilton writes that she is certain that Burney has 'suffered during our beloved & excellent King's illness and the Queen's progressing affliction'. She expresses her joy at his return to health and her hopes that he will 'preserve a life of such infinite vale & consequence. The letter continues on the subject of the Queen and that she believes it fortunate that Mrs Delany did not live to see the King ill [Mrs Delany died in 1788] as she 'certainly w[oul]d of died of a broken heart long before it pleased God'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The draft letter continues on friends at Court such as Mr and Mrs Smelt, Mr Digby and Mr Fisher.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Taxal [Derbyshire].</p>