COLLECTION NAME:
Mary Hamilton Papers
Record
Image Number:
HAM210.pdf
Reference Number:
HAM/2/10
Link to Catalogue:
Series Title:
Manuscript Diaries
Parent Work Title:
Diary of Mary Hamilton
Creator:
Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816
Creator Role:
Author
Date Created:
1784
Description:
The diary covers 23 April 1784 - 20 June 1784 and includes Hamilton's visit to see the famous chess-playing automaton, known as the 'Turk'. She was invited as part of Lord Dartrey's party who had organized a private viewing. The diary includes an advert for the exhibition of the automaton pasted into it. Hamilton was 'highly pleased' with the machine and wrote that Lord Dartrey played against the machine and lost the game. After the exhibition, the group visited Merlins [Mechanical Museum] to see 'his curious inventions'. The diaries record Hamilton's reading and writing activities which included Horace. Hamilton includes details of her many friends and her many visits including with members of the bluestockings. She writes of a poem Mr Farhill had given her, a satire on learned women and and his partiality for her. At an evening party which included Mrs Boscawen, Mrs Harrick, Miss More and Mrs Walsingham, the Duchess of Devonshire was discussed. 'The conversation was lively & sensible' and 'several strictures were passed on the Duchess of Devonshire's conduct'. She writes of meeting the Duchess on the 27 April 1784 whilst the Duchess was campaigning for Mr Fox. The Duchess's coach was surrounded by a 'mob' and Hamilton writes disapprovingly of the Duchess. At a later dinner at Mrs Veseys, the conduct of the Duchess and the Westminister Election was the only subject of conversation. Other conversations included the issue of servants and the need to treat them humanely and 'with care' and the Royal family. At another visit with Mrs Carter and others she and the other guests talked of the King's coldness to the Prince of Wales which is supposedly the result of the Prince 'interfering in politics & being in opposition'. Hamilton also talks of politics with Mr Churchill, who she calls the 'political apothecary' who called to see the housemaid who is ill. Hamilton details another Bas Bleu evening where Samuel Johnson entertained the part with stories of Oliver Goldsmith. Mrs Carter said that Dr G was a very vulgar man and vastly conceited'. The description of the evening continues in such a vein and continues for over three pages of the diary. Hamilton visits Opies [painter] studio to see his portrait of Mr Glover which is to be a gift for her. Though she 'was not sufficiently satisfied with it to take it away' and Opie agreed to continue working on it if Mr Glover could be persuaded to sit for him once more. She visited an exhibition at the Royal Academy, she visits the painter Romney with Miss Gunning who was sitting for her portrait. She also details a visit to the Pantheon and of going to Westminister Abbey to hear Handel's 'MessiAnna Harper' with amongst others Dr Burney, Mr Boswell and Miss Palmer. Hamilton records a meeting the poet Miss Helen Williams and on her being sponsored by Mrs Montagu before they had a falling out. Hamilton also writes with more everyday news such as Mrs Carter buying her coffee as she believes that she can get it cheaper and better than anyone else and of being busy looking over house linens. Hamilton writes on literature and of a visit by Lord Monbodo who passed her some manuscript letters to copy and with a gift of books and writes of how 'diverted' she was with his belief that man in his 'original state to be pretty much upon par with an Orang Outang'. The diary also includes details of an offer of marriage that Hamilton received from 'M Bourdieou'. The diary ends with Hamilton receiving John Dickenson's declaration of love he told her that he 'had never loved any other woman and that his heart was in' Hamilton's possession. Hamilton writes of receiving an unexpected letter from Dickenson which she writes that she 'did not have the power to read it'. He is to come to London specifically to see her and ask for permission to do so. Hamilton agrees and Dickenson asks her to be his wife. She writes that they began a conversation which 'decided my future destiny'.
Language Code:
eng-GB
Language:
English
Subject:
Great Britain--Social life and customs
Category of Material:
Archives
Sub-Category:
Diaries
Technique Used:
Handwriting
Medium:
Ink
Support:
Paper
Time Period Covered:
18th Century CE
Places Covered:
England: Greater London: London
People Covered:
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
People Covered:
Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, Duchess of, 1757-1806
People Covered:
Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784
People Covered:
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
People Covered:
Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816
People Covered:
Glover, Richard, 1712-1785
Current Repository:
The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
Rights Holder - Image:
The University of Manchester Library
Rights Holder - Work:
Copyright restrictions may apply
Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd):
2011-12-08
Image Creation Technique:
Digital capture by The University of Manchester Library
Access Rights:
Date Image Added (yyyy-mm):
2012-09
Metadata Language:
eng-GB
Collection Code:
Mary Hamilton Papers