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

Beauvoir (née Sharpe, later Douglas), Mary, Carter, Elizabeth

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Mary Sharpe to Mary Hamilton. The letter is in two parts.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The first is written by Sharpe, who invites Hamilton to visit her and Mrs Carter at Deal and again writes of Mrs O'Keefe (see HAM/1/22/13), whom she knew would 'move [...] [Hamilton's] compassion'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The second section is written by Elizabeth Carter, who sends Hamilton her love and writes that she will give her opinion on the book when she hopes to see Hamilton at Mill Hill. In the meantime Carter advises Hamilton not to go 'staring & marry a Tom Jones, blessing your stars all the while & thinking you have made a notable choice'. Although the advice is given to Hamilton in jest, Carter notes that such advice should be taken 'seriously [...] to many a poor Sentimental Miss & perhaps you will think it's being so, a sufficient critique upon the History of Tom Jones without any further addition'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Deal, [Kent].</p>