The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Margaret Gunning

Hamilton, Mary

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Mary Hamilton to Charlotte Gunning, concerning Hamilton's position at Court. She is often too exhausted to write as her day does not finish until 11 but starts at 6. She does not go to sleep until at least 12 as she sleeps in 'Atossa's' room. Hamilton has not been able to find out is 'Mercury's' [code name for another Court member] day is to be kept which Gunning had asked her to find out. She notes that she can only inform her 'that it is thought it will not be kept, as he is about but that there will be a Synad held wh[i]ch will of course be a very full one, as all the People invited to the Féte on P of W's day will be there'. She writes about the conduct of a woman named 'Helen' and her daughter at court and that the 'Germans are gone out of England' and since their departure 'her' name as not been mentioned by the family [it is not clear if 'the Germans' and the 'family' relates to the royal family]. She suggests that it is quite an 'instruction one gains by living in such a school'. Hamilton writes what comfort it is to possess a clear conscience as she does not imagine 'that I am more perfect than others & therefore less liable to err'. She is aware of weakness and imperfection and quotes some lines of poetry written by Elizabeth Carter.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Hamilton continues her letter by enquiring about Gunning’s health and notes that 'Perfecta' [Lady Charlotte Finch] has written her two letters informing her of the improved health of her son and that her married daughter [Mrs Fielding (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/7/5'>HAM/1/7/5</a>)] and Hamilton's cousins, the Grahams 'were taken prisoners in their return to England'. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Babel.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Original reference No. 16.</p>

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