- Mary Hamilton Papers

COLLECTION NAME:

Mary Hamilton Papers

mediaCollectionId

Manchester~11~11

Mary Hamilton Papers

Collection

true

Image Number:

HAM22.pdf

image_number

HAM22.pdf

Image Number

false

Reference Number:

HAM/2/2

reference_number

HAM/2/2

Reference Number

false

Link to Catalogue:

Mary Hamilton Papers

Series Title:

Manuscript Diaries

title_series

Manuscript Diaries

Series Title

false

Parent Work Title:

Diary of Mary Hamilton

title_larger_entity

Diary of Mary Hamilton

Parent Work Title

false

Creator:

Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816

creator

Hamilton, Mary, 1756-1816

Creator

false

Creator Role:

Author

creator_role

Author

Creator Role

false

Date Created:

1782-1783

date_created

1782-1783

Date Created

false

Description:

The diary covers the dates from 27 November 1782 until 10 June 1783 and records many aspects of the day to day life of Mary Hamilton including her many social engagements such as her meetings with members of the Bas Bleu and attending plays that SarAnna Harper Siddons appeared in. The diary also records the gossip of the day. Hamilton writes of her family and friends and on the literature she reads. Hamilton notes each day the many visits and visitors she met each day. Included amongst her visitors were her friends from Court, many prominent figures in society such as Mrs Boscawen, Frances Burney, Mrs Carter, Mrs Garrick and Mrs More as well as various members of the aristocracy [she also notes of breakfasting with a Mr Beckford who may be her relation, the author and art collector, William Beckford (1760-1844).] She writes of a visit from a Mr Vandergutch(?) who came to talk of pictures and who 'made a catalogue'. At a dinner at Mrs Garricks she notes that Dr Johnson was among the guests. Hamilton writes about a discussion she had with the Duchess of Portland about her having left Court. Hamilton writes of attending a lecture given by Sheridan...and of attending 'Miss Abrams benefit concert'. She attends a play that Mrs Siddons acted in and that Mrs Garrick had given her a ticket to attend in Mrs Garrick's own box to see Siddons in the role of Calista in the Fair Portrayal and that she also saw her in the role of Isabella which Hamilton thought was 'very finely executed'. She also writes of a visit to an exibition with her Uncle, of viewing a portrait of Mrs Siddons and of dressing for a masquerade. Hamilton also notes that Mrs Vesey took her and the Clarle sisters to see the 'Masks' at the Duchess of Bolton's and of her disappoinment at not being able to attend Lord Abingdon's concert because of the lack of a suitable chaperone and of cancelling a visit to the Duke of Devonshire's because of the poor weather. Having recently resigned from her position at Court, Hamilton's diary details her growing independence including her search for a house to set up with her friends the Miss Clarkes. Hamilton writes of her decision to take Clarges Street and of signing the agreement and of complaining to the owner about leaks. The diary also includes information on Hamilton's finances and on her family including her signing a security bond for £600 that her Uncle Frederick Hamilton is to pay her. The diary details Hamilton's friendship with the Glover family and of the evenings she spent with them. The literature they read which included pamphlets on the subject of the American war, a 'private pamphlet relative to Robert Walpole' and a manuscript of a tragedy that Mr Glover had written fifty years previously [possibly Ethelmond]. She also details the conversations they had and the card games they played. Hamilton records Richard Glover sitting for his portrait that was being painted by the artist John Opie [(1761-1807), a portrait and history painter], a portrait that was being painted for Hamilton herself. She writes of the poetry that her friend from Court, Mr Farhill wrote and of sending him a work called Lines to a Lady to read. On a visit to Mrs Delany, Hamilton notes that they examined prints and read together from History of the Reign of Queen Anne. Hamilton writes of being asked her advice by a young woman with regards to how she should conduct herself 'with a Mr R'. She writes with news of the Royal family including the poor health of Prince Octavious and later on his death and of seeing and speaking with the Prince of Wales at Ranleigh. The diary concludes with a visit to Lady Wakes at Courteen Hall and on her return to London a visit to Mrs Garrick's where they 'conversed upon...interesting literary subjects'.

description

The diary covers the dates from 27 November 1782 until 10 June 1783 and records many aspects of the day to day life of Mary Hamilton including her many social engagements such as her meetings with members of the Bas Bleu and attending plays that SarAnna Harper Siddons appeared in. The diary also records the gossip of the day. Hamilton writes of her family and friends and on the literature she reads. Hamilton notes each day the many visits and visitors she met each day. Included amongst her visitors were her friends from Court, many prominent figures in society such as Mrs Boscawen, Frances Burney, Mrs Carter, Mrs Garrick and Mrs More as well as various members of the aristocracy [she also notes of breakfasting with a Mr Beckford who may be her relation, the author and art collector, William Beckford (1760-1844).] She writes of a visit from a Mr Vandergutch(?) who came to talk of pictures and who 'made a catalogue'. At a dinner at Mrs Garricks she notes that Dr Johnson was among the guests. Hamilton writes about a discussion she had with the Duchess of Portland about her having left Court. Hamilton writes of attending a lecture given by Sheridan...and of attending 'Miss Abrams benefit concert'. She attends a play that Mrs Siddons acted in and that Mrs Garrick had given her a ticket to attend in Mrs Garrick's own box to see Siddons in the role of Calista in the Fair Portrayal and that she also saw her in the role of Isabella which Hamilton thought was 'very finely executed'. She also writes of a visit to an exibition with her Uncle, of viewing a portrait of Mrs Siddons and of dressing for a masquerade. Hamilton also notes that Mrs Vesey took her and the Clarle sisters to see the 'Masks' at the Duchess of Bolton's and of her disappoinment at not being able to attend Lord Abingdon's concert because of the lack of a suitable chaperone and of cancelling a visit to the Duke of Devonshire's because of the poor weather. Having recently resigned from her position at Court, Hamilton's diary details her growing independence including her search for a house to set up with her friends the Miss Clarkes. Hamilton writes of her decision to take Clarges Street and of signing the agreement and of complaining to the owner about leaks. The diary also includes information on Hamilton's finances and on her family including her signing a security bond for £600 that her Uncle Frederick Hamilton is to pay her. The diary details Hamilton's friendship with the Glover family and of the evenings she spent with them. The literature they read which included pamphlets on the subject of the American war, a 'private pamphlet relative to Robert Walpole' and a manuscript of a tragedy that Mr Glover had written fifty years previously [possibly Ethelmond]. She also details the conversations they had and the card games they played. Hamilton records Richard Glover sitting for his portrait that was being painted by the artist John Opie [(1761-1807), a portrait and history painter], a portrait that was being painted for Hamilton herself. She writes of the poetry that her friend from Court, Mr Farhill wrote and of sending him a work called Lines to a Lady to read. On a visit to Mrs Delany, Hamilton notes that they examined prints and read together from History of the Reign of Queen Anne. Hamilton writes of being asked her advice by a young woman with regards to how she should conduct herself 'with a Mr R'. She writes with news of the Royal family including the poor health of Prince Octavious and later on his death and of seeing and speaking with the Prince of Wales at Ranleigh. The diary concludes with a visit to Lady Wakes at Courteen Hall and on her return to London a visit to Mrs Garrick's where they 'conversed upon...interesting literary subjects'.

Description

false

Language Code:

eng-GB

language

eng-GB

Language Code

false

Language:

English

language_name

English

Language

false

Subject:

Great Britain--Social life and customs

subject

Great Britain--Social life and customs

Subject

false

Category of Material:

MEDIA INFORMATION