| Description Of Item | From the collection of family papers of Alexander Hamilton. In June 1824, Lady Mary Ann Portsmouth took refuge with the Hamiltons and in July the household went to Paris. Alexander incurred considerable expense in establishing a home for her there, although the venture was short-lived as the parties quarrelled. Lord Portsmouth's brother, Newton Fellows, tried to have a Commission of Lunacy declared against the Earl, and to force Lady Portsmouth's divorce which she contested. Mary Ann had made a settlement favouring Alexander, and he had also obtained possession of codicils to Lord Portsmouth's will favouring the Mary Ann's father and brother, together with an affidavit in which Lady Portsmouth denied her husband's lunacy, any ill-treatment of him, and her own infidelity. The Portsmouth marriage was finally annulled in 1828 and the Earl declared insane, his brother succeeding to the title. There is correspondence concerning Lady Portsmouth at HAL/3/30. See also HAL/3/24 and HAL/3/27. |