The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Mary Glover to Mary Hamilton

Glover, Mary

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Mary Glover to Mary Hamilton, containing general news of friends and society including news of the attempted assassination of the King. Glover writes of the company at home and having a 'gay time'. She writes of a public breakfast about ten days previously at the Wells with a hundred people in attendance. There was music and a band and dancing and everyone seemed pleased. Another public breakfast is planned for the following week. Glover also writes of Anna Maria Bourdieu (see HAM/1/13/33) is of the party. She has just returned from Brussels and is very amiable. Her sisters are trying to turn her against her father but she refuses to do so.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Glover also writes about her continuing attempts to get her father's work published and the settlement of a bond (see HAM/1/13/39). The bond is now settled and she has the money in her possession. Her father's work the Athenaid will be published in February. A thousand copies are to be published and Mr Collier thinks that they will all be sold. Glover writes that her mother saw Hamilton's aunt, Mrs Hamilton who told her that her husband is to sell their house at Bedford Square and have purchased some land at the end of Oxford Street opposite the park. They are to build a house on the plot and are to live next door to it whilst it is being built (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/4/1'>HAM/1/4/1</a>).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Glover reports that Hamilton's friend, Mrs Delany is very well and has breakfasted a number of times with Mr and Mrs Cole. Glover notes that no doubt Hamilton was alarmed when she heard about the attempt on the king's life. She notes that he 'had taken the precaution of sending an express to Windsor to desire that the Queen might not hear about it'. She continues to note that on his arrival at Windsor he himself announced to the Queen 'Well thank God I am not in the least hurt'. He repeated this twice and the Queen and the princesses looked at him but did not speak and the princesses then burst into tears and the Queen was in 'agonies'. The King was upset by his action and alarmed for the Queen. Glover writes that the Prince of Wales came to Windsor on the Friday to make his enquiry. The Queen saw him but the King did not. Glover notes that the King resents the controversy with Mrs F[itzwilliam] and 'if it had not been for that he would have paid all his debts'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Sunning Hill.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Original reference No. 19.</p>