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 the representatives for the Scottish Peerage and to general news. Napier had resolved not to write to Hamilton before he himself had received a letter first from her. He has changed his mind since he has been at home with a cold and notes that he writes to her 'merely to keep [...] from falling asleep'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier jests with Hamilton that although she is a member of the bluestocking tribe, if she had been less 'saucy' her would have allowed her to read a section of his journal on his visit to the West Highlands. He notes that it has been remarked that Hamilton is the 'Perfect Indigo, and as she confesses to have sojourned with the Empress of the Shells & Mother Delany for a long period, I must beg to be excused'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier writes that in Scotland everybody is a politician. He notes that he himself was a confirmed 'Reprobator of Mr Fox's East India Bill' and has been wishing for a dissolution of Parliament. He believes that there will be major changes amongst the Scottish peers and Commissioners. Seven new candidates to represent the peerage have already declared themselves, including the Earls of Murray, Hopetoun and Dumfries amongst others. He does not know whether Lord Stormont expects to be 'turned out' though he reports that he has been 'particularly attentive to strengthen his interest'. Lady Stormont had applied to Napier to support her husband and this was followed with letters from the Duke of Atholl and Lord Cathcart asking for his support for Lord Stormont. He has informed them that he will support Stormont whether in or out of office. He writes that he does not know if they are 'obliged' to him or not as they have not thought it 'expedient to thank me for my Civility'. Napier also writes on the meaning of friendship.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Edinburgh.</p>