[_Communicated by Mr. Wm. C. Lane, Librarian of Harvard_]
(These two letters from Mrs. Delany—Geo. III’s “Dear Mrs. Delany”—were
addressed to Capt. Henry Hamilton, who, in the autumn of 1778, had led
the English expedition from Detroit which, by way of the Maumee and
the Wabash, reached Fort St. Vincent (Vincennes) and surprised and
captured it.
The post was soon after surprised and recaptured by the Americans
under Capt. George Rogers Clark, and Hamilton was carried a prisoner
to Williamsburg, Va. He remained in captivity eighteen months under
very harsh conditions, until sent on parole to New York in October,
1780. An exchange of prisoners was arranged in March, 1781, and
Hamilton reached England in June of the same year.
In 1782 he was again in Canada, and on November 15, 1784, when
Haldimand left Quebec for England, he succeeded him as governor. The
next summer he was recalled. He was Governor of Bermuda 1788–94, and
Governor of Dominica from 1794 till his death in 1797.
Hamilton’s memoirs and the journal of his expedition from Detroit are
in the Harvard University Library, and will be printed in book
form.—W. C. L.)
S^T. JAMES PLACE [_London_] _7 Feb^y. 1781_.
_Dear S^r_:
Being offer’d a safe conveyance for my letter, I cannot resist the
opportunity of congratulating you, on your enlargement from your
Horrible Dungeon; you are too just, and generous to your Friends, not to
have felt their anguish on your Sufferings, and fear, it was no small
aggravation to _them_. My exquisite Friend the Duchess Dow^r of
Portland, took every precaution to conceal, what she with real concern,
had heard was your situation, and during the rigor of it, I was ignorant
of what must have griev’d me very much, as I cannot without shuddering
recollect the inhuman treatment you have met with; most heartily I wish
you at perfect Liberty, among your Friends here; tho it may be
presumption in me, to have any expectation, of sharing the joy such an
event would give them; and shou’d not be surpriz’d, if you started at my
well known hand (tho somewhat the worse for the wear) supposing it a
letter rather from the Dead, than the living; but, it has pleas’d God to
Lengthen my Days to an age which commonly is attended with Labour &
Sorrow; of the latter I have had some share of the most grievous kind
that of surviving many Dear and Valuable Friends; but as I trust they
are infinitely happier than I can possibly be on this turbulent spot,
that consoles me and my spirits are still sufficient to enable me to
enjoy my remaining Blessings; among the Number, The Honourable Station
y^r Excellent Brother Sackville possesses, the high esteem he is in with
every Body that can distinguish merit & his Domestick and social
Happiness must gladden the heart of all that know him; I say no more of
the rest of y^r familly as I suppose you have better intelligence from
them; my last acc^{ts}. were satisfactory of all. The Death of our
ingenious Friend and most excellent woman M^{rs}. Ham^n of Summer Hill
had been so long expected from the severity of a long illness that her
release was rather to be wished tho her loss must be lamented. I have
felt much for her good Daughter who I fear has not so cordial a Friend
in her Brother as she truly deserves; her Mother has taken care to leave
her in comfortable and independent circumstanse. Your constant Friend
M^{rs} Sandford has supported a very delicate state of health,
marvellously, and gone thus far with great success in the Education of
her 4 fine Sons; she has been very unhappy ab^t you as she heard how
inhumanly yu had been treated—I know if she was at my Elbow I shou’d be
charged with her affectionate complim^{ts} and wishes to _her_ old
Friend Harry, and think if you were to meet you wou’d still recollect
_your_ old Friend Pooney.
And now it might become me to apologize for so long a letter; but that
would be meer ceremony for I know your good heart too well not to
suppose even so imperfect an account of your Friends will be welcome, I
therefore add before I conclude, that my three Nephews are well tho not
all Happy, my Bro^r Dewes died last summer and has left his Eldest Son
in good circumstances,—my Nephew Bern^d was the Happiest of Men till
deprived some months ago of a most amiable wife; my 3^d Nephew has not a
wish to make being the Husband of an agreeable worthy wife settled to
their hearts’ content at Calwich. My Niece M^{rs} Port mother of 6
Children and consequently full of Parental anxieties but well in
health—you see by trespassing so much on your Friend^p how confident I
am of it—will you hazard a letter to me? if waves and wind are
favourable I may receive it—please God,—before my 82d year is
compleated; and, if not by that time superannuated, it will give sincere
pleasure to Dear S^r
Your affectionate Friend
and obliged hum^{ble} Serv^t
M. DELANY.