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 [sic]. 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.
Dated at Dublin Barracks.
Editing supervised by David Denison and Nuria Yáñez-Bouza.
First edited in the project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers' (Hannah Barker, Sophie Coulombeau, David Denison, Tino Oudesluijs, Cassandra Ulph, Christine Wallis & Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, 2019-2023).
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Editing supervised by David Denison and Nuria Yáñez-Bouza.