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 primarily relates to Napier's son William [later 9th Lord Napier] and the school that he attends. Napier describes the school in detail. It is run by a clergyman and only has ten pupils and is based in Ovington, Northumberland. He notes that he crossed over Carter Fell [a mountain] on his return home from taking his son to school and he teases Hamilton: although she is a member of the 'Blue Stocking Society' he may still need to explain further what a feat that was, as he cannot assume that she will know all the geography of the land.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier is to return to his troops in Liverpool in March which he is not enthusiastic about doing. He notes that his regiment has many attractions but that his home has more which he prefers 'to the Dignity of the Parade'. Somewhat strangely he refers to the Pendle Witches by writing that he looks forward to seeing the Lancashire Fencibles [a volunteer militia] who 'as the Descendants of Witches must be superior to anything we have among us, your Witches being called Beauties, but I do not recollect that <i><i>Macbeth's</i></i> acquaintances were said to possess any personal charms'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Wilton Lodge [Roxburghshire]. </p>