Diplomatic Text
Audley End 1802
Audley End Febry 9th-
▼
My dearest
I received yr letter this morning -- & cannot Suffer a Post to
go out without Thanking you for it -- most heartily do I Pray to
almighty God for ye restoration of yr Comfort, & as I bleʃs God
that you have acted so wisely -- I hope that the dear Child of
yr Hearts will soon be in a Convalescent stile. I have the highest
opinion of Dr. Kerr of Northampton his reputation is unimpeach'd
& he is very right to have his Patient immediately under his Eye.
you have taken this in Time -- & the change of Air & Scene
will do you all good -- besides a Sound Constitution free from
all fr --- s -- a well form'd figure -- she is bleʃs'd with such
a disposition. that you have no difficulty's to Struggle with
but this t --- y Cold, which has taken too fast a hold --
she has been all her life time so uncommonly well brought up
as to hours -- Eating, &c (for th'o indulg'd she was never
a Spoyl'd Child) that you will find the Greatest advantages
both to yr selves, & to her, for these forbearances, which cd
--- t other Children, are not more thought of by her --
all I can add, is this -- which comes from the bottom of my
Heart -- that if there is any aʃsistance I can give -- you may
command me & depend upon me -- if my going to Northampton
could ease yr attentions, I will do so I will take a lodging -- in short any thing -- & every
thing will I do most willingly to be of comfort or Service --
I will now tell you all the News I hear -- imprimis -- the
Duke of Roxburgh call'd at the door of a friend of Lord
B——s. to say that there is a report that the definitive
Treaty is arrived[1] -- this will be a great Consolation to the
largest part of the World. only those who have lost their
Places will Sulk -- a report also of instability -- Pitt has been at
Wickham with Lord Carrington -- Lord Carrington is gone with him
to Walmer[2] -- if he des --- ts after behaving so well -- we can only
repeat, (what I am sorry to add we have often experienc'd) Oh
how faillible is human Nature -- & how uncertain, are
human resolutions -- Pitts Character was never Aimiable til
he supported Government, when he had left the ------ -- I shall
make you angry about yr dear Miʃs Moore -- you must not
repeat this -- but I will tell you a very horrid Story[3] -- when first
she took upon her self to interfere with this Clergyman. She
wrote to Windham, informing him that this Curate had neglected
his duty -- & that he was a very bad Man -- Windham writes to his
Nephew the Dean of Wells[4] -- who supposing his Uncle would
not have taken up a fact matter of this sort, without some
Enquiry -- goes to the doting Bishop of Bath & Wells. besides which
she got a letter to this Effect from the Bishop of London --
accordingly this man was dismiʃs'd with Contumely -- but however,
Windham thought he had been implicated hastily in this busineʃs
he therefore went first to the revisions -- & discover'd that a
large sum of Money had been given to them for telling this Story
in their -- way -- he then sent to the Conductors of the Anti
Jacobin[5] -- on whom he could depend.[6] They told him they had been
offer'd large sums from Wilberforce,[7] I am not sure -- but I
think from the Bp of L——n also, to invent their Story --
but this they positively refus'd. & insisted on having the correspondence --
& insisting the truth -- he has investigated the whole affair. &
declares -- that it is the deepest conspiracy amongst them all
to propegate Methodism that ever was heard of -- now th'o I do
not admire this Gentleman -- I cannot believe he cd tell a falsehood,
& as he was never partial to Hannah More, because she went
in favour of Government (whilst he was in office) he must be
thoroughly Convinc'd, before he cd be such a Ca --- t, we have had
a very agreeable visitor for 2 Nights lord Essex. he is very Gentlemanly
& pleasant, I have had a letter from Mrs Carter, this morning who
has been Severely ill & had medical advice she is well enough
to Walk out a little way -- she writes that Lord Mendip has given
most unequivocal Proofs of his regard to his Widow by leaving her
every thing for too her Life[8] -- he was so croʃs to her latterly -- that the
World had made a most Unjust Will for him -- I am glad she has
outlived him -- Mrs Carter sees very little of Mrs Digby at present
as she is constantly with Ly Mendip -- tell my dear Louisa -- with my
kind love -- that I have danc'd a Cottillion[9] with the Miʃs
Nevilles -- that to be sure my breath was a little shorter
than my partners, but that I did beyond any expectations -- that
I beg she will make haste & get quite well. that at our
return to Beds: she may know the Advantage of dancing
with me -- Mr --- ly is here at present & on Thursday were
Mr & Mrs Peachy -- pray write to me as soon as you can -- & accept
Mrs Jalaberts kindest Compts. & good wishes -- my love to Mr D: &
dear Lou -- Concludes me most Sincely & Affecly yrs DBlosset
if Milk agrees, ask Dr. Kerr if Lou may not take to bad Milk[10] --
Skim it well -- Put it with an ------ after the Bread is taken out
Soke it. when the S --- rises like a Custard take it off --
put it with the ------ again & bake it -- & take of the Scum
Til after baking the Scum ceases -- then it is fit to be given
two or three tea Cups in the Course of the day luke warm --
with a little brown Sugar Candy -- it is Nourishing -- & Cooling --
show this to Dr Kerr, I have given this recipe to a Physician
& to a Great Man at Reading -- they have adopted it & thank'd
me for it --
Mrs Carter writes that poor Mrs Chapones death was a great
reverse -- she was debilitated in Mind & Body -- she died at
her own home at Hadleigh[11] & had every comfort the B --- s's
could give her -- I do not think Mrs C: Valued Mrs Chapone as
she ought since Mrs Douglas's Marriage -- I am happy to find
Miʃs Dickenson was better for Dr Kerrs Medicines -- tell her to
get well immediately -- to be ready for our dance -- When she gets
Stout. she will go & see her Grand -- Native Air -- has it
Advantages -- th'o it may be too Cold at present.
[12]I have wrote a great deal to be read out
to yr dear Child if you please -- you may tell
her that the last part is a Confidence from me to you -- I am happy
to find you Support your self -- I pray God to ------ toyou to make these
exertions so Virtuous -- & so Pious -- I think there seems to be
no reason for despair -- We are all interested for you --
keep her up -- & also Her grandfather -- poor person
[13]
[14]
[15]
Walden Febry nine 1802
(hover over blue text or annotations for clarification;
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
red text is normalised and/or unformatted in other panel)
Notes
1. The Treaty of Amiens (see also the note in HAM/1/8/2/28).
2. This is confirmed in a letter from Lord Grenville to the Marquis of Buckingham, dated on the same day as this letter. Lord Grenville mentions that Pitt is at Walmer with Lord Carrington to arrange Addington's budget and a peace establishment (cf. Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, Vol. 3 (London: Hurst and Blackett Publishers), 1885. pp.190-191).
3. This refers to part of the Blagdon Controversy, a dispute between Hannah More and Thomas Bere, the curate of Blagdon in Somerset. It began as a local affair in 1799 but had by 1801 turned into a national notoriety, involving people such as the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Bishop of London, William Windham, William Wilberforce and the writers of the Anti-Jacobin Review (cf. Anne Stott, 'Hannah More and the Blagdon Controversy, 1799-1802'. Journal of Ecclestiastical History 51(2). 2000. 319-346).
4. George William Lukin, the Dean of Wells from 1799 until 1812, was Windham's half-brother through their mother, Sarah Windham (néé Hicks, later Lukin), not his nephew.
5. The Anti-Jacobin Review was a conservative political periodical founded in July 1798, and was a successor to the short-lived Canningite weekly newspaper of the same name, which ran from 1797 until 1798 and opposed the radicalism of the French Revolution. The main writers of the Anti-Jacobin Review (which ran until 1821) were John Gifford, Robert Bisset (a friend of William Windham) and James Mill, who opposed Hannah More during the Blagdon Controversy.
6. According to Stott, Windham was ‘the politician with most consistent influence on its agenda’ (Anne Stott, 'Hannah More and the Blagdon Controversy, 1799-1802'. Journal of Ecclestiastical History 51(2). 2000. p.330).
7. Who opposed the periodical and sided with Hannah More during the Blagdon Controversy.
8. Lord Mendip had died a week before Blosset wrote this letter.
9. ‘The name of several dances, chiefly of French origin, consisting of a variety of steps and figures’ (OED s.v. cotillion n. Accessed 01-11-2021).
10. Though difficult to read, this recipe seems to be for a posset or similar medicine.
11. Not present-day Hadleigh, Suffolk, but present-day Monken Hadley, the London Borough of Barnet.
12. Moved postscript here from the top of p.1.
13. Remains of a seal, in black wax.
14. A watermark, 1801, can be seen here, denoting the year in which the paper was made.
15. Distance mark in black ink, reading SAFFRON WALDEN 46.
16. A stamp indicating postage was ‘FREE’ (as provided by Lord Braybrooke), and the date (for a clearer example of this stamp with a different date see HAM/1/8/2/28 p.3).
Normalised Text
Audley End February 9th-
▼
My dearest
I received your letter this morning -- & cannot Suffer a Post to
go out without Thanking you for it -- most heartily do I Pray to
almighty God for the restoration of your Comfort, & as I bless God
that you have acted so wisely -- I hope that the dear Child of
your Hearts will soon be in a Convalescent style. I have the highest
opinion of Dr. Kerr of Northampton his reputation is unimpeached
& he is very right to have his Patient immediately under his Eye.
you have taken this in Time -- & the change of Air & Scene
will do you all good -- besides a Sound Constitution free from
all fr --- s -- a well formed figure -- she is blessed with such
a disposition. that you have no difficulty's to Struggle with
but this t --- y Cold, which has taken too fast a hold --
she has been all her life time so uncommonly well brought up
as to hours -- Eating, &c (for though indulged she was never
a Spoiled Child) that you will find the Greatest advantages
both to your selves, & to her, for these forbearances, which could
--- t other Children, are not more thought of by her --
all I can add, is this -- which comes from the bottom of my
Heart -- that if there is any assistance I can give -- you may
command me & depend upon me -- if my going to Northampton
could ease your attentions, I will do so I will take a lodging -- in short any thing -- & every
thing will I do most willingly to be of comfort or Service --
I will now tell you all the News I hear -- imprimis -- the
Duke of Roxburgh called at the door of a friend of Lord
Braybrookes. to say that there is a report that the definitive
Treaty is arrived -- this will be a great Consolation to the
largest part of the World. only those who have lost their
Places will Sulk -- a report also of instability -- Pitt has been at
Wickham with Lord Carrington -- Lord Carrington is gone with him
to Walmer -- if he des --- ts after behaving so well -- we can only
repeat, (what I am sorry to add we have often experienced) Oh
how faillible is human Nature -- & how uncertain, are
human resolutions -- Pitts Character was never Amiable til
he supported Government, when he had left the ------ -- I shall
make you angry about your dear Miss Moore -- you must not
repeat this -- but I will tell you a very horrid Story -- when first
she took upon her self to interfere with this Clergyman. She
wrote to Windham, informing him that this Curate had neglected
his duty -- & that he was a very bad Man -- Windham writes to his
Nephew the Dean of Wells -- who supposing his Uncle would
not have taken up a matter of this sort, without some
Enquiry -- goes to the doting Bishop of Bath & Wells. besides which
she got a letter to this Effect from the Bishop of London --
accordingly this man was dismissed with Contumely -- but however,
Windham thought he had been implicated hastily in this business
he therefore went first to the revisions -- & discovered that a
large sum of Money had been given to them for telling this Story
in their -- way -- he then sent to the Conductors of the Anti
Jacobin -- on whom he could depend. They told him they had been
offered large sums from Wilberforce, I am not sure -- but I
think from the Bisshop of London also, to invent their Story --
but this they positively refused. & insisted on having the correspondence --
& insisting the truth -- he has investigated the whole affair. &
declares -- that it is the deepest conspiracy amongst them all
to propagate Methodism that ever was heard of -- now though I do
not admire this Gentleman -- I cannot believe he could tell a falsehood,
& as he was never partial to Hannah More, because she went
in favour of Government (whilst he was in office) he must be
thoroughly Convinced, before he could be such a Ca --- t, we have had
a very agreeable visitor for 2 Nights lord Essex. he is very Gentlemanly
& pleasant, I have had a letter from Mrs Carter, this morning who
has been Severely ill & had medical advice she is well enough
to Walk out a little way -- she writes that Lord Mendip has given
most unequivocal Proofs of his regard to his Widow by leaving her
every thing for too her Life -- he was so cross to her latterly -- that the
World had made a most Unjust Will for him -- I am glad she has
outlived him -- Mrs Carter sees very little of Mrs Digby at present
as she is constantly with Lady Mendip -- tell my dear Louisa -- with my
kind love -- that I have danced a Cotillion with the Miss
Nevilles -- that to be sure my breath was a little shorter
than my partners, but that I did beyond any expectations -- that
I beg she will make haste & get quite well. that at our
return to Bedfordshire she may know the Advantage of dancing
with me -- Mr --- ly is here at present & on Thursday were
Mr & Mrs Peachy -- pray write to me as soon as you can -- & accept
Mrs Jalaberts kindest Compliments & good wishes -- my love to Mr Dickenson &
dear Louisa -- Concludes me most Sincerely & Affectionately yours Dorothy Blosset
if Milk agrees, ask Dr. Kerr if Lou may not take to bad Milk --
Skim it well -- Put it with an ------ after the Bread is taken out
Soak it. when the S --- rises like a Custard take it off --
put it with the ------ again & bake it -- & take off the Scum
Til after baking the Scum ceases -- then it is fit to be given
two or three tea Cups in the Course of the day luke warm --
with a little brown Sugar Candy -- it is Nourishing -- & Cooling --
show this to Dr Kerr, I have given this recipe to a Physician
& to a Great Man at Reading -- they have adopted it & thanked
me for it --
Mrs Carter writes that poor Mrs Chapones death was a great
reverse -- she was debilitated in Mind & Body -- she died at
her own home at Hadleigh & had every comfort the B --- s's
could give her -- I do not think Mrs Carter Valued Mrs Chapone as
she ought since Mrs Douglas's Marriage -- I am happy to find
Miss Dickenson was better for Dr Kerrs Medicines -- tell her to
get well immediately -- to be ready for our dance -- When she gets
Stout. she will go & see her Grand -- Native Air -- has it
Advantages -- though it may be too Cold at present.
I have written a great deal to be read out
to your dear Child if you please -- you may tell
her that the last part is a Confidence from me to you -- I am happy
to find you Support your self -- I pray God to ------ you to make these
exertions so Virtuous -- & so Pious -- I think there seems to be
no reason for despair -- We are all interested for you --
keep her up -- & also Her grandfather -- poor person
Walden February nine
Mrs. Dickenson
Post Office
GriffinBraybrooke Northampton
free
Post Office
GriffinBraybrooke Northampton
free
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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/1/8/2/29
Correspondence Details
Sender: Dorothy Blosset
Place sent: Saffron Walden
Addressee: Mary Hamilton
Place received: Northampton
Date sent: 9 February 1802
Letter Description
Summary: Letter from Dorothy Blosset to Mary Hamilton. She writes of Miss [Hannah]
More. Blosset notes that Hamilton may be angry with her but that she must
tell her about Miss More and that she must not repeat it. That what she
has to tell her is a 'very horrid thing'. That she 'first took upon her
self to interfere into the business of a Clergyman and wrote informing
those above him that this Curate had neglected his duty'.
The letter continues with general news of acquaintances.
Dated at Audley End [Essex].
Length: 2 sheets, 1224 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: Tino Oudesluijs, editorial team (completed 29 October 2021)
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