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, concerned with general news of family and friends, specifically of Horace Walpole.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries is pleased to have word from Hamilton that she had arrived safely at Taxal [Derbyshire] and that she found her friends well there. She is pleased to hear that Louisa [Dickenson] behaved 'perfectly and affectionately' towards her grandfather, John Dickenson Senior, and her two aunts. She must be a 'delight' to Hamilton.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues that she has 'thousands' of things to tell Hamilton but her eyes are so weak that she can only write what is necessary. She tells Hamilton that the 'music had come' and that she hopes that John Dickenson will think 'them pretty'. She was 'obliged to pin' her 'faith' on Mr Greville with regard to the music 'or rather the fine musical Lady who was so good to give him the list'. Nina Herries is 'taking the liberty' of copying from them. Herries also writes of patterns, noting that she will send some patterns and the music she has to Lady Stormont (see HAM/1/17/18), and once they have been returned to her she will then forward them to Hamilton.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries reports that she had not seen Horace Walpole but that her husband, Sir Robert, saw him at Lord North's and 'I have been at his door [and] he was to day rather indifferent with a cold but I hope that will be over soon'. Herries 'is honoured & flattered' with the good opinion Hamilton informed her that Walpole has of her and continues the letter on the subject of Walpole and of friendships with people of 'advanced years'. She continues the letter with news of other friends including Mrs Handcock and Mrs Vesey and of her family.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>