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, relating to the death of Hamilton's cousin, the son of her uncle Frederick Hamilton (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/4/1'>HAM/1/4/1</a>). Napier writes that he will not pretend to condole with Hamilton over his death and notes that it is fortunate that he had no children. He expects that Frederick Hamilton will do something to aid his son's Danish ‘wife’ and ‘prevent her acting improperly’. [Frederick Hamilton was unsure as to whether or not his son and this woman was married.] Napier continues noting that his old-fashioned notions lead him to see their marriage as binding in the eyes of God if not the law of the land. He believes that she would not know this as she was married to Robert Hamilton in her own country and believes she lawfully is so and therefore should not be left to become destitute.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Napier continues his letter with news of his two sons in the navy. He eldest son, William has been spending some time with Napier who notes that he has not seen him for five or six years prior to this. He notes that there is advantages in having daughters as opposed to sons in that ‘they stay at home with their old Parents till they become old themselves’.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Queen Street [Edinburgh].</p>