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 Hamilton's house at Leighton, of which she has sent him a drawing. He gives thanks that he does not have to pay her window tax, as he counted 42 windows in her drawing. He contrasts this with his style of living at camp, describing himself as a ‘drowned Rat’. He is tired of hearing drums, fifes and of marches and longs to be with his own ‘regiment’ at Wilton Lodge, [Roxburghshire]. He writes of his family and with the news that Lady Mansfield's soon will soon announce that he is to be married. He also notes that ‘as soon as decency will permit’ she is likely to announce her own. He notes that he ‘hates that narrow minded mode of acting, to curtail a Widow's jointure, if she marries again. Is it not enough to torment a Woman in one's lifetime, without making her curse one's memory’. Napier continues his letter on this subject.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated near Aberdeen.</p>