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. The letter relates to Herries's friendship with Hamilton, the Bluestockings, spa treatments and acquaintances including Elizabeth Carter, Horace Walpole and Anna Maria Clarke.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries begins her letter noting that she has written Hamilton a 'thousand times in my head' in reply to her last letter but has not written sooner because of the 'variety of hindrances that arise in London'. The letter continues on news of Mrs [Elizabeth] Carter, who is as well as ever and who assures her that she does not think 'our much loved & respected friend Mrs Vesey worse than when she left her - either in health or memory'. Carter is to dine with Herries on Sunday and then they are both to go to Clarges Street [to a bluestocking evening at Mrs Vesey's]. Herries writes of one of her friends, Mrs Hunter, who she had earlier introduced to Mrs Vesey and who Vesey found 'delightful', will also be going to Clarges Street. She also writes of a party that she herself gave which she assures Hamilton was not 'Blue' but consisted of a little cards and a little music. She remembers Hamilton advising her 'not to mix real blue with any thing else' and as in most things, Hamilton is always right.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter continues on 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/10/1</a>), whom Herries notes read to her some of Hamilton's journals. Herries writes on books, on John Dickenson's health and on mineral waters as a treatment for his stomach complaints and also on her own use of water treatments. She writes with news of friends and relations including on the death of her uncle, Horace Mann [(c.1706-1786), first baronet, diplomatist], his considerable fortune and of her belief that he has 'left a few pictures' to their old friend Horace Walpole, who is currently recovering from an attack of gout and who has not been out since the attack, although she believes that he has sent out his cards of thanks. Herries concludes her letter with news of her youngest brother Edward and of her husband's daughter, Nina, and the health of her aunt (see HAM/1/17/84).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries begins her letter on 31 December 1786 and ends it 6 January 1787.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>