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 concerns Herries losing a ring containing a lock of Hamilton's hair, news of her family and, briefly, a bluestocking party she had held.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries begins by stating that she knows why Hamilton does not write and it is because she 'hate[s] to tell me the unpleasant truth that I must give up the dear hopes of seeing you this Spring'. She knows that Mr Dickenson's reasons for their change of plans for the year are good but Herries is nevertheless disappointed.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues the letter on the subject of losing a ring she had which contained a lock of Hamilton's hair. Herries wore it when she went out in the evening and she only went to one place 'but both houses have been searched'. Hamilton can have no doubt as to the effect that the loss has had on Herries and asks that Hamilton provide her with another lock of her hair. She will have another ring made with an inscription.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries writes of holding a 'blue party'. Hamilton's friends attended and would have rejoiced if Hamilton herself had been a part of the evening. Anna Clarke and she had both lamented Hamilton not coming to London. Herries writes on the death of Mrs Smelt (a friend of Hamilton's from her time at court) whom Herries understands wan an 'intimate' friend of Hamilton's.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>