Lady Mary Wake née Fenton was the daughter of Richard Fenton of Banktop, Yorkshire. She married Sir William Wake, 8th Baronet (1742-1785) in June 1765. The Wake's estate was Courteenhall, Northampton. Lady Wake was one of Hamilton's neighbours when she lived in Northampton and was one of her earliest friends. Lady Wake died in 1823. Her son, whose letters form part of this set, was Sir William Wake 9th Baronet (1768-1846). He married Mary Sitwell in 1790 and she died the following year.
The correspondence in this sub-subseries relates primarily to Lady Wake's son and his 'attachment' to Hamilton. William Wake was a constant visitor at Hamilton's residence when she lived at Clarges Street. Although Hamilton rejected his declarations of love, he persisted in his suit until she became engaged to John Dickenson in 1784. In the letters he writes to Hamilton that he cannot trust himself to speak to her directly and speaks of his hopes that she did not mean what she had said to him previously and that when he had 'offended' her he had 'suffered [his] passion to get the better of him' (HAM/1/8/8/). He later writes of Hamilton sending him an 'uncomfortable note' (HAM/1/8/8/5) and complains about what he perceives to be her changing behaviour towards him. He writes of his feelings and of missing her. The letters continue in this vein. In HAM/1/8/8/16 he records having been 'scolded' by Lady Wake for defacing her tables by carving Hamilton's initials on them. He also discusses John Dickenson, Hamilton's marriage and the poor health of his sister, and he describes attending an assembly where he danced with the prettiest lady in the room. HAM/1/8/8/26 is concerned with Lady Wake's return to Courteenhall after the death of her husband.
Lady Wake writes on the subject of friendship and what she feels to be the essential ingredients of any friendship: a good education and a 'mutual desire for knowledge' (HAM/1/8/8/2). She also writes on Hamilton's daughter and of being asked to sponsor her.
Also included are letters from Mary Hamilton to Lady Wake. In HAM/1/8/8/1 Hamilton informs Wake of the ill health of Prince Alfred, saying that there is little chance of his recovering and that the King and Queen are preparing for the worse. The letter continues with news of an accident that the Prince of Wales has suffered and with news of Hamilton's uncle, Sir William Hamilton (HAM/1/4/4). She writes of the theatre and of seeing Mrs Siddons in Maid of Honour and Charles Macklin in The Merchant of Venice. She also writes with news of friends and acquaintances including Elizabeth Carter and the Duchess of Devonshire (HAM/1/8/8/21).