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 the health of Herries's family and friends including Mrs Chapone, Mrs Carter and Mrs Hunter, and society gossip.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries writes with news of friends and acquaintances and reports on the 'faithful friendship' and poor health of Mrs Vesey and Miss Handcock. [The two women lived together as companions.] She notes that Horace Walpole 'shows himself in a light so amenable on the subject' and gives up much of his time to them. The letter continues with news of friends. She writes on Mrs Elizabeth Carter and of a Mrs B's conduct towards her. She reports that Lady Cunynghame has not yet taken to her bed with her first child and notes that 'it seems the longest nine months that ever were'. Mrs Garrick (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/6/6'>HAM/1/6/6</a>) she reports is 'in high health & beauty'. Mrs Chapone is also well and she is to have tea with that evening. Mrs Hunter is well and has asked Herries to forward Hamilton a poem that she has recently written. Herries congratulates Hamilton on her relation, Lord Cathcart's, election and on the news that there is to be no further contest. The letter continues with society gossip relating to Lord and Lady Eglinton's divorce, Hamilton's cousin the Duke of Hamilton and Lady Augusta Campbell amongst others. Herries will read Mrs More's new poem on slavery [<i>Slavery, a poem</i>] to see how it 'strikes' her. Mrs More has been ill and although better is still not completely recovered. Herries continues on having attended a 'delightful little party' of Hamilton's friends - 'quite a congregation of Blues such as you will soon have invited together to meet you'. Frances Burney was of the party. Herries notes that this was the first time she had seen her since her 'gilded captivity' [referring to her position at court]. She writes on royal gossip and of the Prince of Wales buying Mrs Fitzherbert a house. Herries is told that 'she is as much noticed as ever in that great set'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>