The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from William Napier, 7th Lord Napier, to Mary Hamilton

Napier, William, 7th Lord

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from William Napier, 7th Lord Napier, to Mary Hamilton, offering his thoughts (as Hamilton requested) on her proposed visit to London with Lady Wake. He advises Hamilton to be wary of people. For some ‘affected politeness passes for good Nature and amiableness & hides often a very very bad heart’.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier also writes with news on friends and family. Hamilton’s cousin, Miss Cathcart, is to be a Maid of Honour to the Queen. Colonel Bland and his regiment are to come to Scotland and there will be a ball. He writes on Sir William Wake's poetry and also about his own health. Napier is sorry that John Hope is still obliged to stay in Northampton and does not think that he will soon be on speaking terms with his father and friends ‘as they take not the least notice or ever speak of him’. He has hinted to them on the subject but they made no enquiries. He expects that things are worse for Hope than he thinks as he thought the ‘storm would pass’ and they were only giving him a taste of their anger, but Napier is of a very different opinion. Hope's family are ‘very much offended at him’ and Napier is sorry for this.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Edinburgh.</p>