Letters of Elizabeth Craven in the Beinecke Collection, Yale University
Two letters from Elizabeth Craven survive in the William Beckford Manuscript Collection in the Beinecke Library at Yale University. The first is addressed to Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples. Craven had long been acquainted with Hamilton, who had connections with her family, and she met him again in Naples when she went there in 1790 with the Margrave of Anspach. She stayed there as his guest and met his wife, the celebrated artist's model Emma, Lady Hamilton. The letter is dated 13th May from Triesdorf, and the year is evidently 1790 as Craven makes many references to her recent stay with the King and Queen of Naples, and the civility she met there. She also refers to the fact that the Margrave has just had to dismiss his secretary and one other court official in Anspach as they were involved in some machinations during his absence. This happened in April 1790. The Margrave has employed a new councillor called Bernsprunger, and Elizabeth writes that she is c...