The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Court Dewes to Mary Hamilton

Dewes, Court

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Court Dewes to Mary Hamilton, relating to Mary Delany and Frances Burney. Dewes has just returned from Windsor and knowing of Hamilton's friendship with Delany he updates her on her welfare. When he left Delany she was very well 'considering everything'. She continues to receive the attention of the King and Queen and her 'society is much improved by the addition of Miss Burney at Windsor' [Frances Burney See <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/6/5'>HAM/1/6/5</a>] & Mr Smelt at Kew where she has been twice for 2 or 3 Days'. Mr Smelt also visits Delany at times at Windsor and Dewes notes that the King has given Smelt at Kew '& lives w[i]th him there pretty much upon the same footing he does w[i]th Mrs Delany at Windsor'. He reports that Burney seems improved by her new office [at Court] and he has never seen her look so good and seems to be satisfied by her situation.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dewes has heard that Hamilton intends to visit Warwick Castle and urges her to do so soon as he intends to visit Bath at Christmas and he would 'be mortified to have you in the Country when I am out of it'. Dewes updates Hamilton on the health of his brother and writes about the forthcoming Winter weather and the benefits of moving to 'warmer climates' in such months.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Wellesbourne, [Staffordshire].</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Original reference No. 2.</p>