The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Charlotte Finch (née Fermor) to Mary Hamilton

Finch (née Fermor), Charlotte, Lady

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Charlotte Finch to Mary Hamilton. She writes that she can provide a good account of Prince Alfred and that the sea-bathing is benefiting him. She asks Hamilton to communicate this to the King and Queen. She reports that the Prince is sleeping better and that his appetite has improved. His skin and the eyelid that had been affected seem to be getting better.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Finch writes of her happiness at seeing her son when he landed. He has now rushed to London to prepare for the Royal birthday, which she supposes Hamilton and all at Court are very busy preparing for. The windows of Deal Castle will be opened again for the firing of the guns, ‘which shakes the Castle so’ and would otherwise break them. She has had the pleasure of seeing Mrs Carter, who looks very well and cheerful, apart from her usual headache. Finch notes that the weather is so windy and cold that it makes walking on the sands very difficult and she has been spending much of her time by the fireside in a small room with a view of the sea. She has been reading Antonis de Solis in Spanish, and Mrs Carter has provided her with a dictionary to aid her. Her time is spent reading, with her grandchildren's studies and with writing letters. She usually retires about 10 o’clock, which allows her to rise early. Hamilton ends her letter with the hope that ‘the Influenza’ that is said to be prevalent does not affect the Queen’s House.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Deal Castle [Kent].</p>