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, concerning news of Hamilton's aunt, Lady Hamilton in Naples.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries has been wanting to write to Hamilton for some time as she has news that she knows would give Hamilton pleasure. She has not done so until now has she has not had a moment to write since her return to town on Tuesday. Amongst other concerns, her time has been spent writing letters on some 'unpleasant business' which has taken up her daylight hours and concedes that what she had to tell Hamilton she probably has now heard of herself but will still write to her just in case she has not. She notes that the Queen of Naples desires to see Lady Hamilton [Emma Hamilton, née Lyon, wife of Sir William Hamilton] and 'she is in consequence to be presented' Hamilton's friend, Miss Bowdler wrote her this news in November and the presentation is now over. Miss Bowdler wished Herries to forward Hamilton the news and had written that she is 'delighted with Lady Hamilton' and that Lady Hamilton had spoken of her admiration of Hamilton and of the 'respect' and 'gratitude' wh[i]ch she feels towards Mrs Dickenson [Mary Hamilton]. Herries quotes from Miss Bowdler's letter 'I am delighted with Lady Hamilton [...] [Lady Hamilton had said of Hamilton that] I & have long owed to the goodness of Mrs D'. She continues that these words came from Lady Hamilton's heart. The letter continues on Lady Hamilton, on her past and the hopes with regards her future conduct. Miss Bowdler had initially shown so much attention to Emma Hamilton because of [Mary] Hamilton's own good opinion of her which Herries had told Bowdler of. Bowdler believes that Lady Hamilton will remain 'worthy' of the goodness that Hamilton has shown her.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Miss Bowdler had told Herries that she knew of Mary Hamilton before Herries had mentioned her from Mrs Delany [see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/6/3'>HAM/1/6/3</a>]. 'I have heard her talk of Mrs D, Miss H then [...] with such delight such perfect approbation as only such goodness can induce [<i>sic</i>] & feel'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St James's Street, [London].</p>