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 Lady Herries's time in Paris, discussing general news of friends and family and, briefly, literature.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries has the opportunity of sending Hamilton a letter by private hands and writes of her pleasure at receiving Hamilton's own letter which was delivered yesterday by one of their acquaintances.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries writes on the good health of Hamilton and of her own party and her family who have all, excepting Sir Robert, been suffering from a 'complaint in the bowels'. She reports that they, with the exception of Mr Sackville, are now almost recovered.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries refers to a previous letter that she has sent Hamilton in which she describes her journey to Paris. She writes of visiting new places and seeing new things, describing Paris as being 'much embellished' since she last saw it and that it continues to change daily with 'new buildings & bridges etc'. The Herrieses visit the sights when 'business engagements' allow as they 'are not like people coming merely to see whom a few weeks may soon get through it'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries continues her letter with news of friends and of Nina Herries. She mentions Horace Walpole, who she hears is quite ill and Mrs Boscawen [Frances Boscawen (1719-105), née Glanville, literary hostess]. She writes of hearing of the discovery of more Sévigné letters and that they may be published. There is no new literary news in Paris with the exception of a memoir containing information on the 'ministry' that is proving difficult to get hold of. There is also 'great talk of changes in the ministry'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Paris.</p>