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 death of Miss Handcock, who was Elizabeth Vesey's close companion, to the Royal family and to family and friends.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries writes of her love for Hamilton and on her hope that Hamilton's uncle, Sir William Hamilton (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/4/4'>HAM/1/4/4</a>), will visit, but if not she can return Hamilton's message for him. Herries continues that Hamilton will no doubt already have heard 'and grieved to hear' of the news of the death of Miss Handcock and of Mrs Vesey's distress. She reports that Mrs Vesey frequently asks where her friend Miss Handcock is. Herries notes that many of Vesey's friends including Mrs Elizabeth Carter, Anna Maria Clarke and Horace Walpole will do all they can for her and that Vesey's servants are so 'good that in fact they are more to be called friends'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter continues on general subjects and with gossip on the royal family. The King 'has been much better this week' and Herries believes that the Prince of Wales's behaviour is much better than the Duke of York's. She also notes that talk of a possible marriage between the Prince and Mrs Fitzherbert 'can do no good'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter ends with news of Herries's family and with a report that Hannah More has been ill with a cough but is now much better, and 'Mrs Carter I think poorly'. Lady Herries writes that she will forward Hamilton <i><i>Julia & Marcellus</i></i> (see HAM/1/17/24)when she gets a frank, although she does not think it is 'much worth reading'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>