Diplomatic Text
Audley End Janry 26th
1801
My dearest Mrs Dickenson
I will not suffer Lord Braybrooke to leave this place again
to attend Parliamt without getting a direction for you -- I have
been impatient to thank you over & over again for yr kindneʃs
to me -- I was well aware of the magnitude of the favor
I ask'd. well knowing how unpleasant it is to an honest, th'o
a Vulgar mind, to be implicated in other peoples Affairs -- how
much more so to a mind like yours, not my only with high
Principles of Honour -- but with Polish'd manners. all I can add
is, that you may trust me safely -- I have not committed you
in the smallest degree -- I wrote my Sister, exactly the Censure
that Baily sent me, first as to the information I wrote him
respecting my Letter I wrote to my Sister -- acquainting her with part
of the busineʃs -- which I should think was Sufficient to Alarm
any one who is not determin'd to shut her Eyes & Ears to
Conviction. I trust it has done so -- she has wrote a tolerably
Spirited Letter to Stevens[1] -- she had not received an Answer last
Friday -- perhaps she may not answer it at all -- but upon that Answer
depends my return to Wing -- I shall therefore think my self very
much obliged to you & Mr Dickenson if you wd Enquire -- if a Lodging
could be procur'd in the Neighborhood of the Lodge -- I have
received a very Civil Answer from Major Gilpin -- who promises
to put order the Painting, (they have the longest traces & the
most dangerous behind them) immediately -- I have wrote my Sister
word, that however my Conduct may have been thought strict
respecting the keeping or discharging my Servant. I did not
think I ought to suffer such Vermin as Virgin & his daughter[2]
to tell me I was a fool -- or to sneer at me -- that Anne was
now under my Protection, & til I could ensure Peace to my
self & my Servants I would not return. if by Chance.
Mr D: or you sd see Baily ask him if they have given
up the thoughts of disposing of Anne. they have had ------
Sister upon a Visit from Steven's -- she however wrote Anne a very kind letter
almost mocking the Subject of her late folly -- I am truly
happy if my Turkey was Either pleasure or Service to you --
Miʃs Fisherson was long prepar'd for the loʃs of her Servant, &
she marries with the Approbation of her Mistreʃs -- & of his
Master -- What Times these are -- my dear Mrs D: Lord Braybrooke
does not say much -- & hear by a little Gangche Gauche
that people in London are rather disatisfied -- & that the
t --- are not very happy -- & as a proof, Lord Buckingham
goes this year to paʃs the Parliamentary Season in PallMall,[3]
to keep a Steady watch I conclude. They talk of a new
Supplementary Militia, after having reduc'd the regular Militia.
I find that the Opposition are making a Stir -- for Grey also is
the declar'd Head of that Party -- as a kind of Shop (my frd
stil'd it) at the Thatch'd House. there is no Cockpit this Eveg.
Grey made the Amendment -- God send all honest Men to succeed
in getting us Peace -- I have had the most lively pleasant Letter
from our dear Mrs Carter that can be conceived -- do you know
she came from Deal by Night in the Mail Coach. her friends
all remonstrated, but she laugh'd at them all. I wrote her
that I hoped she would be able to repeat this ------ several
Times. but Ly Nelthorpe writes word that she saw Mrs Carter
at Chaple -- & thought she look'd sadly -- she & I are Engaged
in a warm dispute, (an Amiable one) she will not believe
that Buonaparte will restore the K: of France -- I do sincerely
believe it. Mrs Peachy was so good to send me a Letter for the
dear Emigrant Count Sulé who is in the highest Spirits --
he is sure the K of France will be upon the Throne in leʃs
than Six Months -- but he thinks that Buonaparte will be
King of Lombardy, take Mantua, Peschiare, the Piedmontese
all to Tuscany & that side the Alps -- I say -- No -- if he
has real Great Ambition, he will restore the Monarchy --
make them a rational free Government. he has already
aggrandis'd France. & then retire into private Life -- with
a name far Superior to one who made the World turn
pale. to point a Moral, or adorn a tale[4] -- he will not
only have saved France, but Europe, for if he could go on
in his Consulate, after having made such a change in one
year -- what Nation wd Suffer a generation of Monarchs --
Count Sulé writes, that Buonaparte had sent an Ambaʃsador
to Petersburgh & that Paul sent one from himself to Britain
to Louis 18, & has received one from Louis ye 18 -- he adds
that 25 French Emigrants are to go to Calais the day after
he sent that letter. he will not go til the king is upon the
Throne -- the Chatter is that the K: has facilitated the
match between Col Erskine & Lady Louisa Paget by making
the Col: an Aid de Camp. & his quickneʃs in getting rid
of Lady H——n. by getting the Q: of Naples letter for yr
Uncle is much applauded. for a Letter from one Queen to another
was not to be Trifled with. he had heard of this Letter, & at ye
Interview which is Customary upon the return of a foreign Minister
he saw yr Uncle put his hand into his Waistcoat pocket, he
immediately Enquir'd after the Q: of Naples. & then Sir W: told his
Majesty that his Wife was commiʃsion'd to give a letter to her Majesty
The K instantly said, have you got the letter, I'll give it to the
Queen your Uncle gave the Letter -- et ------------ en resta la -- poor dear Mrs Jalabert is far
from well. we are all Uneasy about her. Lord B. very much so -- but
we dare not tell her. she sends her Compliments to you --
Miʃs Nevilles Philadelphia goes on very well. we were a little
alarm'd. for 16 is rather a dangerous age -- but we have now great
hopes that she will be Establish'd in her principles Sufficiently
to enable her to be a hard working farmers Servant in about
a year. She has given proofs this morning, that divine Truths
have made some impreʃsions on her mind --
Adieu my dear Mrs Dickenson give my kind love to Mr Dickenson
& the dear Lsa -- I really believe a more upright, Steady-Spirited
Man does not exist than Baily -- I trust in God that my Sister will
be as I believe she is. truly sensible of his Merits -- she is really one of
the best of Women. her merit is indeed exalted, & I am proud to
think it so -- but she was sure to be the dupe of Wicked people.
& she has too tenacious a Opinion of her own Abilities -- but
when once convinc'd no one more ready to acknowledge an Error --
th'o God only know what it costs her in the mortification of having
been so Groʃsly abus'd -- direct under Cover to Lord Braybrooke
& thank you for two letters ------------------------ which I duly
received -- What a sad cold morning for Lady L --- s breakfast
I thought of Mr D: when I went in the Whisky[5] this morng
▼
it was dreadfully cold -- once more Adieu & believe me most
truly & Affcly yrs DBloʃset. [6]
Leighton House
Leighton Buzzard
Griffin Braybrooke
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. Presumably the wicked person mentioned in HAM/1/8/2/22.
2. See also HAM/1/8/2/27 p.1.
3. Presumably the street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster.
4. Blosset references Johnson's couplet ‘He left the name, at which the world grew pale, | To point a moral, or adorn a tale.’
5. A kind of gig, or chaise, built for one person with the seat resembling a chair.
6. The address is in the hand of the provider of the frank, Richard Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke.
Normalised Text
Audley End January 26th
My dearest Mrs Dickenson
I will not suffer Lord Braybrooke to leave this place again
to attend Parliament without getting a direction for you -- I have
been impatient to thank you over & over again for your kindness
to me -- I was well aware of the magnitude of the favour
I asked. well knowing how unpleasant it is to an honest, though
a Vulgar mind, to be implicated in other peoples Affairs -- how
much more so to a mind like yours, not my only with high
Principles of Honour -- but with Polished manners. all I can add
is, that you may trust me safely -- I have not committed you
in the smallest degree -- I wrote my Sister, exactly the Censure
that Baily sent me, first as to the information I wrote him
respecting my Letter I wrote to my Sister -- acquainting her with part
of the business -- which I should think was Sufficient to Alarm
any one who is not determined to shut her Eyes & Ears to
Conviction. I trust it has done so -- she has written a tolerably
Spirited Letter to Stevens -- she had not received an Answer last
Friday -- perhaps she may not answer it at all -- but upon that Answer
depends my return to Wing -- I shall therefore think my self very
much obliged to you & Mr Dickenson if you would Enquire -- if a Lodging
could be procured in the Neighbourhood of the Lodge -- I have
received a very Civil Answer from Major Gilpin -- who promises
to order the Painting, (they have the longest traces & the
most dangerous behind them) immediately -- I have written my Sister
word, that however my Conduct may have been thought strict
respecting the keeping or discharging my Servant. I did not
think I ought to suffer such Vermin as Virgin & his daughter
to tell me I was a fool -- or to sneer at me -- that Anne was
now under my Protection, & til I could ensure Peace to my
self & my Servants I would not return. if by Chance.
Mr Dickenson or you should see Baily ask him if they have given
up the thoughts of disposing of Anne. they have had ------
Sister upon a Visit from Steven's -- she however wrote Anne a very kind letter
almost mocking the Subject of her late folly -- I am truly
happy if my Turkey was Either pleasure or Service to you --
Miss Fisherson was long prepared for the loss of her Servant, &
she marries with the Approbation of her Mistress -- & of his
Master -- What Times these are -- my dear Mrs Dickenson Lord Braybrooke
does not say much -- & hear by a little Gauche
that people in London are rather dissatisfied -- & that the
t --- are not very happy -- & as a proof, Lord Buckingham
goes this year to pass the Parliamentary Season in PallMall,
to keep a Steady watch I conclude. They talk of a new
Supplementary Militia, after having reduced the regular Militia.
I find that the Opposition are making a Stir -- for Grey also is
the declared Head of that Party -- as a kind of Shop (my friend
styled it) at the Thatched House. there is no Cockpit this Evening
Grey made the Amendment -- God send all honest Men to succeed
in getting us Peace -- I have had the most lively pleasant Letter
from our dear Mrs Carter that can be conceived -- do you know
she came from Deal by Night in the Mail Coach. her friends
all remonstrated, but she laughed at them all. I wrote her
that I hoped she would be able to repeat this ------ several
Times. but Ly Nelthorpe writes word that she saw Mrs Carter
at Chapel -- & thought she looked sadly -- she & I are Engaged
in a warm dispute, (an Amiable one) she will not believe
that Buonaparte will restore the King of France -- I do sincerely
believe it. Mrs Peachy was so good to send me a Letter for the
dear Emigrant Count Sulé who is in the highest Spirits --
he is sure the King of France will be upon the Throne in less
than Six Months -- but he thinks that Buonaparte will be
King of Lombardy, take Mantua, Peschiare, the Piedmontese
all to Tuscany & that side the Alps -- I say -- No -- if he
has real Great Ambition, he will restore the Monarchy --
make them a rational free Government. he has already
aggrandised France. & then retire into private Life -- with
a name far Superior to one who made the World turn
pale. to point a Moral, or adorn a tale -- he will not
only have saved France, but Europe, for if he could go on
in his Consulate, after having made such a change in one
year -- what Nation would Suffer a generation of Monarchs --
Count Sulé writes, that Buonaparte had sent an Ambassador
to Petersburgh & that Paul sent one from himself to Britain
to Louis 18, & has received one from Louis the 18 -- he adds
that 25 French Emigrants are to go to Calais the day after
he sent that letter. he will not go til the king is upon the
Throne -- the Chatter is that the King has facilitated the
match between Colonel Erskine & Lady Louisa Paget by making
the Colonel an Aid de Camp. & his quickness in getting rid
of Lady Hamilton by getting the Queen of Naples letter for your
Uncle is much applauded. for a Letter from one Queen to another
was not to be Trifled with. he had heard of this Letter, & at the
Interview which is Customary upon the return of a foreign Minister
he saw your Uncle put his hand into his Waistcoat pocket, he
immediately Enquired after the Queen of Naples. & then Sir William told his
Majesty that his Wife was commissioned to give a letter to her Majesty
The King instantly said, have you got the letter, I'll give it to the
Queen your Uncle gave the Letter -- et ------------ en resta la -- poor dear Mrs Jalabert is far
from well. we are all Uneasy about her. Lord Braybrooke very much so -- but
we dare not tell her. she sends her Compliments to you --
Miss Nevilles Philadelphia goes on very well. we were a little
alarmed. for 16 is rather a dangerous age -- but we have now great
hopes that she will be Established in her principles Sufficiently
to enable her to be a hard working farmers Servant in about
a year. She has given proofs this morning, that divine Truths
have made some impressions on her mind --
Adieu my dear Mrs Dickenson give my kind love to Dickenson
& the dear Louisa -- I really believe a more upright, Steady-Spirited
Man does not exist than Baily -- I trust in God that my Sister will
be as I believe she is. truly sensible of his Merits -- she is really one of
the best of Women. her merit is indeed exalted, & I am proud to
think it so -- but she was sure to be the dupe of Wicked people.
& she has too tenacious a Opinion of her own Abilities -- but
when once convinced no one more ready to acknowledge an Error --
though God only know what it costs her in the mortification of having
been so Grossly abused -- direct under Cover to Lord Braybrooke
& thank you for two letters which I duly
received -- What a sad cold morning for Lady L --- s breakfast
I thought of Mr Dickenson when I went in the Whisky this morning
▼
it was dreadfully cold -- once more Adieu & believe me most
truly & Affectionately yours Dorothy Blosset.
Leighton House
Leighton Buzzard
Griffin Braybrooke
quotations, spellings, uncorrected forms, split words, abbreviations, formatting)
Notes
Metadata
Library References
Repository: John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester
Archive: Mary Hamilton Papers
Item title: Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton
Shelfmark: HAM/1/8/2/23
Correspondence Details
Sender: Dorothy Blosset
Place sent: Saffron Walden
Addressee: Mary Hamilton
Place received: Leighton Buzzard
Date sent: 26 January 1801
Letter Description
Summary: Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton. She writes of Hamilton's
kindness to her, on her sister and with general news.
Length: 2 sheets, 1289 words
Transliteration Information
Editorial declaration: First edited in the project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers' (Hannah Barker, Sophie Coulombeau, David Denison, Tino Oudesluijs, Cassandra Ulph, Christine Wallis & Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, 2019-2023).
All quotation marks are retained in the text and are represented by appropriate Unicode characters. Words split across two lines may have a hyphen on the first, the second or both fragments (reco-|ver, imperfect|-ly, satisfacti-|-on); or a double hyphen (pur=|port, dan|=ger, qua=|=litys); or none (respect|ing). Any point in abbreviations with superscripted letter(s) is placed last, regardless of relative left-right orientation in the original. Thus, Mrs. or Mrs may occur, but M.rs or Mr.s do not.
Acknowledgements: Transcription and XML version created as part of project 'Unlocking the Mary Hamilton Papers', funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council under grant AH/S007121/1.
Transliterator: Cassandra Ulph, editorial team (completed 16 November 2020)
Cataloguer: Lisa Crawley, Archivist, The John Rylands Library
Cataloguer: John Hodgson, Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Copyright: Transcriptions, notes and TEI/XML © the editors
Revision date: 12 March 2024