The Mary Hamilton Papers : Diary of Mary Hamilton (30 November 1783 - 4 December 1783)

Hamilton, Mary

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>The diary covers the period 30 November to 4 December 1783. It is the second half of the volume made up of folded loose sheets and catalogued as HAM/2/3. Hamilton describes in great detail her lengthy stay at Bulstrode in November and December 1783, with Mary Delany and the Duchess of Portland. Whilst there she read newspapers, the Duchess gave her a book of drawings to examine, and she read manuscript poems. She writes of meeting Court Dewes, the nephew of Mrs Delany, and of discussing with Mrs Delany her uncle, Frederick Hamilton, and Delany making ‘remarks on artful characters’. Whilst at Bulstrode, her maid Betty informed Hamilton of the ‘high esteem’ in which she (Hamilton) was held by the other servants and of their hopes that the Duchess would press her to extend her visit. Hamilton was highly gratified by this report: ‘surely it is an innocent & laudable vanity to listen to commendations of this sort not only as it encourages one to endeavour to render oneself worthy of being esteemed but gives such universal satisfaction by behaving in a civil pleasing manner towards every individual of society – it seems all of the D[uche]ss of P[ortland’s] servants are quite delighted with me’.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>No. 2 written on cover.</p>