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. She writes that she was afflicted with a severe cough at Kensington, though the winter was mild, but the sea air and 'tincture of bark' have since revived her. She and her sister have a very comfortable and neatly furnished lodging at Deal, for nearly half the price of accommodation in London, 'which makes a considerable difference in our Income'. They have hired a girl to accompany her sister when she goes out, on account of her increasing deafness. She has received an invitation to stay with Mrs Steers in Chelsea in the autumn, 'which perhaps I may avail myself of for a month'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Clarke reports that 'I have been some time employed in reading & destroying Letters from Friends in time pas[t]', and she has been reading some of Hamilton's letters and her Bulstode journal: 'the account of your introduction there & how much you were liked'. Clarke describes the experience as 'a sad but sweet gratification'. This leads to reminiscences of the early days of their friendship: 'I thought you first lodged in Queen Street[.] I think I can say that I was about when you were at Mr. Glover's (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/13'>HAM/1/13</a>) as I have no recollection of your being at any house, excepting a Lodging when I was with you & I should have remembered had you come to & fro from Albemarle Street respecting la belle passion'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>She asks to be remembered to Sir William [Anson] and 'dear naughty Louisa'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Deal [Kent].</p>