Letter

Scope and Content

Letter from Harriet de Salis to Mary Hamilton. She discusses the health of her family and friends, what she is reading, and her desire to know how Hamilton is and what she is doing. Salis notes that she is reading a Mr Belsham's History of the Reign of George the third [William Belsham, Memoirs of the kings of Great Britain of the House of Brunswic-Lunenburg (1793, 2nd edition 1796)] by candlelight and that although she has reservations about the author, she notes that it is well written and interesting. She continues that we 'unfortunately are all old enough to remember the beginning, the Progress, and the inglorious termination of the American War'. Salis continues to write on the subject and notes that the 'present times are too bad to talk of'. She adds a postscript greeting to John Dickenson.

On the back of the sheet is a list of names of some of Hamilton's acquaintances, with sum of money written against their names: perhaps subscriptions or contributions to a fund.

Dated at Wing, near Leighton Buzzard.