The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier, to Mary Hamilton

Napier, Francis Scott, 8th Lord

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier, to Mary Hamilton. The letter relates to Napier's feelings for a woman and to his hopes for a new position in the army. He writes that he knows that Hamilton is aware of his attachment to Lady L—— and he himself understood that the Lady in question was not indifferent to him. He finds that he was wrong in this and that she is soon to be married. He received this news on his return to Quarters. A week later Napier received a letter from a friend who informed him that Colonel Gunning had 'got a Regiment by which the Office of Deputy adjutant General for Scotland would become vacant' and he wished him to apply for it. Napier notes that his father was in this office and it is an office he has wished to be in since he entered the army. With it he would receive the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel and an extra pay of 10 shillings per day. Napier met with Lord Amherst [Jeffrey Amherst, first Baron Amherst (1717-1797), army officer] who promised to recommend him to the King for the position and who assured him that he had no other person to recommend for the position. He told him to return to his Quarters and to wait to hear news of his application. This was a month ago and he has not heard a word. He has been and continues to be agitated upon the subject and in a state of suspension. He is not able to afford to purchase himself a position in the army. If he was to purchase such a position it would cost him at least £3500. He has kept his application a secret even from his friends. He apologises for taking so much of the letter on this subject but notes that it takes a great deal of command to take up another subject when the mind is occupied with another.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Welwyn, [Hertfordshire].</p>


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