Detail View: Mary Hamilton Papers:
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Image Number:
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Bookreader_HAM_2_6
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Reference Number:
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HAM/2/6
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Link to Catalogue:
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Series Title:
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Manuscript Diaries
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Parent Work Title:
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Diary of Mary Hamilton
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Creator:
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Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816
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Creator Role:
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Author
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Date Created:
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1783-1784
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Description:
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The diary covers the dates from 5 December 1784 until 16 January 1784 and includes details of Hamilton's stay at Bulstrode with Mrs Delany and the Duchess of Portland. Hamilton writes that Mrs Delany told her how the Duchess had 'taken an affection' to her and talked of how they both loved her. She writes of how flattered she was that such women held such opinions of her. Hamilton details how she spent her time which included reading together, visiting the grotto that Mrs Delany had made in the grounds, she writes of the animals and birds kept by the Duchess, of viewing paintings, prints and 'curiosities' belonging to the Duchess. Hamilton details their many conversations which was on diverse subjects such as the 'infamous Lady Burlington', news of the day, fashions, air balloons, on why Mrs Delany began her grotto and on their opinions on the subject on deference by the young. They spoke on the subject of literature with the Duchess of Portland giving Hamilton many anecdotes on the writer Pope and noted that Samuel Johnson 'had not been candid nor true in things he had written of him in his 'Life', whilst Mrs Delany gave many 'particulars relating to [Jonathan] Swift'. Many of their conversations at Bulstrode consisted of gossip about various members of the aristocracy. They talked of the attachment of dogs, of society and how cautious women should be over the society they choose and on who they are seen with in public. They also talked of Mrs Siddons and of former actors and actresses and of anecdotes concerning them and Hamilton's Mrs Delany gave her an account of the 'Hell-Fire Club' which 'consisted of about a dozen persons of fashion of both sexes & some of the females were unmarried & some of the horrid impieties they were guilty of. Mrs Delany also told Hamilton that she had known the two Wesley when they were young men as they had lived near her sister while they were students at Oxford Hamilton records that the Housekeeper at Bulstrode invited her to see her rooms and that she gave her some flowers as well as a peacock feather 'to use as a marker in a book to remember her by'. The Housekeeper told her how much the servants liked her and how happy they were that the Duchess had invited her to stay longer. Hamilton also records Mrs Delany's attempts at putting forward her nephew Court Dewes as a prospective husband to Hamilton. Hamilton's Uncle Sir William Hamilton was expected to visit Bulstrode but wrote to her noting that the visit would have to be postponed as he was expecting an invitation from the King. On her journey home from Bulstrode Hamilton notes seeing an air balloon and of passing a wedding party and once home she continues to write of social engagements including evenings spent with members of the Bas Bleu, an invitation from Mrs Boscawen to attend an assembly and an evening with the Glover's where they played cards and talked of politics. Hamilton lists her many visits from family and friends. She notes of spending evenings at Mrs Monatgu's and Mrs Vesey with such people as Sir Joshua Reynolds and Horace Walpole. Hamilton writes of the Royal family and that the Prince of Wales had enquiring after her to both her cousin, Lady Stormont and her Uncle, Sir William Hamilton. The diary also includes details of more general aspects of Hamilton's everyday life such as Hamilton putting laudanum onto a piece of cotton and into her mouth in an attempt to aid with some pain she was in and of a fright she and the Clarkes had when they thought that there was an attempted break-in at their house. The diary concludes with details of the Duchess of Portland's and Sir William Hamilton's negotiations about the purchase of his antique vase [now known at the Duchess of Portland Vase which is held in the British Museum]. The diary is written on loose sheets that have been stitched together and placed in a paper wrapping on the front of which Hamilton has sketched a picture of a tree.
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Language Code:
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eng-GB
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Language:
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English
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Subject:
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Great Britain--Social life and customs
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Category of Material:
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Archives
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Sub-Category:
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Diaries
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Technique Used:
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Handwriting
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Medium:
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Ink
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Support:
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Paper
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Time Period Covered:
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18th Century CE
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People Covered:
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Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831
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People Covered:
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Hamilton, William, Sir, 1730-1803
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People Covered:
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Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816
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Item Height:
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190 mm
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Item Width:
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115 mm
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Current Repository:
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The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
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Rights Holder - Image:
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The University of Manchester Library
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Rights Holder - Work:
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Copyright restrictions may apply
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Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd):
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2013-01-22
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Image Creation Technique:
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Digital capture by The University of Manchester Library
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Access Rights:
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Date Image Added (yyyy-mm):
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2012-02
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Metadata Language:
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eng-GB
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Collection Code:
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Mary Hamilton Papers
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