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 touches on Hamilton's and Sharpe's situation and feelings. Sharpe is happy to have last received a letter from Hamilton as she feared that she had mistook civilities on Hamilton's side for true friendship. Sharpe is now no longer with Mrs Carter and writes from Tunbridge Wells, where she has come for the benefit of her health. She had left Carter very well with the exception of a headache. She notes that she has taken the waters for only two or three days, so she is unable to judge as yet if they are beneficial and can only say that it does not disagree with her. She must 'bear this place with patience' and to be thankful that such places exist.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Sharpe is pleased that her previous letter had had an effect on Hamilton and notes that it was written from the heart. She continues that the 'state of this world is far from giving content in any situation without hard struggles to accept the spirit of acquiescence' that Hamilton had mentioned in her letter to her. She writes she herself is qualified to judge this, as her outward appearance of her situation appears to be one of happiness and she does feel happy in her lot, yet 'was it only from one single circumstance, the uncertainty of all sublunary enjoyments for a humble hope of obtaining a happier existence free from anxiety'. She begs Hamilton's pardon for her 'moralising humour' and writes of more general news. The Steatfields are also in Tunbridge Wells. She writes that they are living only two or three doors from her but as yet not called on her, and the only greeting she has had from them was a 'distant courtsy'. Sharpe notes that if she was with Hamilton she would give her an opinion on this matter. For the moment she will leave it to Hamilton 'to find out how this may strengthen the sentiments we once agreed in concerning Miss S___d'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Tunbridge Wells, [Kent].</p>