The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Mary Sharpe (later Beauvoir) to Mary Hamilton

Beauvoir (née Sharpe, later Douglas), Mary

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Mary Sharpe to Mary Hamilton. The letter relates to a visit Sharpe undertook to Oxford. Sharpe begins her letter noting that was sorry she was unable to see Hamilton before she left London. She had called on her at St James's but Hamilton was not there and she complains that she had no coach available to visit on the Saturday. Sharpe has nothing to write about her journey as she has seen nothing as yet, and writes this letter from a room in Henley looking out at the Thames. She writes that her 'dear Mama (you know who I mean)' is outside enjoying the prospect [Sharpe does not name this woman but she may possibly be referring to Elizabeth Carter, who is with her on the journey. Sharpe in a later letter refers again to 'mama' as she writes from Deal (HAM/1/22/10), the home of Carter.] Sharpe continues her letter the following day after a visit to Oxford. Whilst there she visited Christ Church and saw a very fine library which she found of great interest, as it 'every where brought the image of my Father to my mind'; he had studied at Christ Church and often spoke of it. Sharpe lists a number of paintings that had been left to the College, which included works by Holbein. At the Radcliffe Library she found little to interest her. It seems to her to 'have only the name of library as there are very few books a defect which [...] [she] is told will however be supplied in time, by the sum of money left for that purpose'. She visited New College, Chapel and listened to some 'very fine' music there. Sharpe writes that Mrs Carter, who is part of the party, sends her love to Hamilton.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Henley.</p>