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, discussing his family. Napier titles the mock-serious opening section ‘Baby Gazette Extraordinary’, reports that his two-year-old girl can now walk as well as her mother, repeats anything that anyone says and is able to hold a conversation. The young ‘master’ of the house is described as a ‘prodigy’. He is only ten months old, already has six teeth and has walked alone. Lady Napier is leaving for Edinburgh to prepare for her confinement back at Axwell Park. Hamilton is to be one of three sponsors.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier writes that it would please him if Hamilton and her family could visit Edinburgh and notes that he would enjoy seeing the ‘two mothers, viewing each others productions’. The letter is also concerned with financial business that Napier has and with a book that John Dickenson has enquired about. Dickenson wondered if Napier's brother-in-law, Andrew Hunter, was the author of a book [title not included in the letter]. Napier is happy that his sister Harriet is no longer with the Hunters; living there prevented her meeting people, as Mrs [Mainie-Schaw] Hunter, in precarious health, rarely goes out.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Greencroft.</p>