The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Anna Maria Clarke to John Dickenson

Clarke, Anna Maria

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Anna Maria Clarke to John Dickenson, concerning Mary Hamilton. She describes her as 'often saucy always agreeable' and wonders if they will ever quarrel about who loves her best. Clarke acknowledges that Dickenson knew her first but notes that she knows of her 'merit' that he has not been witness of. She notes that 'I have seen her ill, & well, at Court, at home, she has conducted herself in every most difficult situation'. Dickenson has previously broached the subject of 'Dress' with Hamilton which caused much debate and Clarke notes that she read Hamilton a lecture on it. She notes that Hamilton read his letter and was 'angry at that unfortunate word happiness should I tell you why [...] Because she wishes to please you in every thing – but she never would study Dress She knows [...]that she can charm without it'. Clarke writes that Hamilton 'despises' the art of dress as taking up too much valuable time. Clarke thinks that Hamilton is 'meditating' on something and she laughs at her that she will not think dress is a waste of time 'when she finds that you like to see her well dressed'. Though she does not believe this. Hamilton does believe that a woman should always be neatly dressed and that 'she is certain that you have always seen her so'. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Clarges Street [London].</p>