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, relating to the Prince Regent and to Napier's service in the army. Napier writes of Hamilton's distress during the Prince's illness [Prince Alfred] and notes of newspaper reports on the princes. Napier writes that the newspapers ‘have now broke the scull [sic] of a certain heir apparent. If it is cracked, I hope a gleam of Common Sense will force its way thr[ough] the crevice and show him the impropriety of being connected with his present companions’. Napier writes that the Prince should not be ‘haughty’ but he should possess the dignity which would ‘reflect more lustre upon his Character’. If a man does not respect himself then he cannot be respected. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier has offered his service at Gibraltar but was advised against it by General Conway as he would not have a command in the garrison and hence he would be ‘an idle spectator’. Conway would not oppose him if he still wished to go but he advised that he continue with his recruiting. Napier had previously written to Conway over the possibility of promotion and had received no reply. Conway told him that the reason was that he did not have the power at that time to aid him.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Tewin Water [Hertfordshire].</p>