The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Lady Catherine Herries (née Foote) to Mary Hamilton

Herries (née Foote), Catherine

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Lady Catherine Herries to Mary Hamilton. She reports that her husband's health is better. Sir Robert's partner and friend, Mr Sackville [Charles Sackville (c.1796), is also in Bath. He has been plagued with gout and they 'thought it a good opportunity to see what the Bath waters would do to fix it - So here we are'. If Bath agrees with them they intend to stay for three weeks.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries notes that prior to leaving London she went to Mrs Veseys and saw there Miss Clarke and Mrs Elizabeth Carter and she is pleased to inform Hamilton that Mrs Carter 'looks remarkable well & was in good spirits'. She also notes that Mrs [Elizabeth] Carter talked of Hamilton and 'rejoiced in your happiness'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries also writes with news of friends and acquaintances such as Mrs [Anne] Hunter whose father has died. She writes of sending a poem which Mrs Hunter had written after hearing of the Queen's goodness to Mrs Delany [Mary Delany, née Granville. bluestocking, artist (1700-1788). She married twice, first to Alexander Pendarves and secondly to Patrick Bernard Delany]. The poem is not included in the letter. The final sheet of the letter has been cut in half so it may have been written on this.] Herries continues her letter with news on how she spends her time in Bath. She is amazed at how few people she knows amongst 'this great crowd' of people. She also alludes to the gossip around the Prince of Wales possible marriage to Mrs Fitzherbert noting that 'a report of a certain marriage seems to die away & it is much to be hoped there was no foundation for it'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter ends with Herries asking Hamilton to give her regards to her husband [although they would not marry until June of that year].</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Bath.</p>