The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from William Napier (later 7th Lord Napier) to Mary Hamilton

Napier, William, 7th Lord

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from William Napier [later 7th Lord Napier] to Mary Hamilton, advising her to contact her uncle, Lord Cathcart. He notes that it is ‘always worth every body’s trouble to keep well with their connections’ especially for someone such as Hamilton whose disposition is one that always ‘wishes to do right’. Hamilton is advised to congratulate Cathcart on his return to Britain and to make an apology for her delay in doing so.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier continues in the letter to write on Hamilton's health and apologises that he will be unable to go to London even to see her as he is ‘tied by the foot in such a manner taking care of a parcel of boys’ [his regiment]. Napier also alludes to a romantic attachment that Hamilton has. Touching on the subject of the Americas, Napier notes that Mrs Litchfield had told Hamilton the truth ‘about suckling children by the Blacks in America they likewise do the same in both the East & West Indies so that deceit & treachery are commonly most happily blended in most if not all the Americans, East & West Indians’. He continues on the subject of the characteristics of the people of the age as being one of scandal and back-biting especially amongst those of high society. Napier ends his letter on the subject of the 7th Dragoons [regiment that is to camp near Hamilton's] which he understands to have some fine looking young men in it who will make a great addition at a country assembly by ‘dancing with the Misses’.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Canterbury.</p>