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, discussing the Prince of Wales and general news.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>It seems to Herries that she has not heard from Hamilton for some time but hopes that she is now settled from her journey and is now surrounded by her family who love her. She writes that Anna Maria Clarke (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/10/1'>HAM/1/10/1</a>) has lately spent time at Mrs Glover's and she believes that this has helped her in her grief after the death of her sister, Mrs Jackson.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter continues with general news of society and on how she spends her time. Herries reports that London is very quiet which she believes is 'by no means that uncomfortable [an] affair'. She reports that she has changed her plan of where she will be spending part of her summer as she has let her 'good Husband cross the water without me'. She intends to accompany him to Brighton, where he will 'embark', and then go on to Tunbridge Wells, after which she will visit some of her family until Sir Robert Herries returns. Herries writes of the Prince of Wales and of his conduct and of the likelihood of seeing him and Mrs Fitzherbert whilst in Brighton. She writes that 'the minds of the great are so warped' and that such people as the Prince 'live so far removed from common life & common causes, that I believe that they have hardly an idea of the miseries their careless extravagance occasions to [...] their fellow creatures'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues her letter with news of friends. She writes of a visit to Mrs Vesey, who 'is much the same as ever and has been considering a visit to Tunbridge Wells but does not think she can afford to do so, which Mrs Handcock denies. Herries hopes this is the case but believes that Vesey will not go, and that in a 'week or two there will be scarcely a creature left [...] to amuse her'. Herries also writes of her cousin, Mr G. Foote, who Mrs Vesey is quite 'delighted' with.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>