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, concerning general news and Boswells's <i><i>The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides</i></i>.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries writes Hamilton that she would have started a journal in a day or two if she had been alone and after the 'agitation of parting' with her husband, Sir Robert Herries. Writing to Hamilton would have been the most pleasantest of things that she could do. Herries also writes of her servant 'Ely' whom she describes as an 'excellent [and] [...] thoroughly attached a servant'. She continues on her own health and of having to have a tooth drawn.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries writes on Hamilton's last letter to her. She notes that Hamilton has many friends of 'the first merit' who are 'attached' to Hamilton. She recognises that Hamilton does at times wish to be in their company but that this would take her away from her husband and that she does not wish this.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues on the subject of friendship and morality, with news of friends and on James Boswell's new book <i><i>The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides</i></i> which she advises Hamilton not to buy as she does 'not think it worth that - not that is quite to yourself - It is amusing for once - but its not like his plays & in [...] [making] Johnson a Giant in understanding he does I think a great deal to making him a dwarf'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>