The Mary Hamilton Papers : Copy of letter from Dorothy Blosset and commentary by Mary Hamilton

Blosset, Dorothy

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Copy of letter from Dorothy Blosset written by an unidentified writer, probably Miss Bandinel, with a commentary relating to the events described in the copy by Mary Hamilton. At the top of the sheet it is written that this is a ‘copy of a note from Mrs Blosset’. It is unclear to whom the original letter was addressed, but they were staying at Birch when it was written. The letter is written in the format of a journal-letter.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter relates to literature, reading, Hamilton’s health and general news of friends. Blosset writes that Miss Clarke has been reading aloud to them for the last four nights. ‘The subject was “Reflections on the Government of Indostan, with a Sketch of the History of Bengal from 1738 to 1756, and an Account of the English Affairs to 1758 by Luke Johnston Esq” – London printed in 1763’ and reprinted in 1780. Miss Clarke asked Blosset to inform Hamilton of some of the ‘Eastern names’ mentioned in the work and she provides the name given to Lord Clegg which she declares sufficient enough ‘to break as many Teeth as you may have to speak’.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Blosset writes that when Hamilton left the room that morning she seemed nervous and Miss Clarke suggested that a blister should be applied as she herself had undergone this treatment and benefited from it greatly.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>At the top of page 1 Miss Bandinel has added a few lines, and Mary Hamilton later wrote down her thoughts on the copy below it (p.2). Given the mention of 'you' on several occasions, it seems that Hamilton herself was also writing to someone, possibly her husband John Dickenson based on the manner she refers to her daughter Louisa at the end of p.2. The number 22 at the top of p.2 could be an indication that the sheet was once part of a journal-letter (cf. HAM/2/15/2, which is a collection of journal letters), but at present this remains speculation.</p>