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, noting the death of Samuel Johnson (1709-1784, author and lexicographer). ‘I could not resist the inclination I felt to condole with you and the rest of the Indigo tribe on the death of Dr Johnston [<i>sic</i>]. Alas poor Mary he fell a victim to Signora Piozzi's marriage therefore I insist if you are not already married, that you will not by a pretended cruelty run the risk of sacrificing Mr Dickenson. It would certainly make a fine subject for a Poem for the blue stocking tribe that one of the society had murdered a deserving young man’. Lord Napier suggests, somewhat in jest, that Johnson died of a broken heart because of Hester Thrale's marriage and teases Hamilton about her own forthcoming marriage to John Dickenson. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Dublin Barracks.</p>