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. She writes that Hamilton will be surprised at receiving a letter from her but she could not 'resist dropping' her a line to let her know that she hopes to be at home the following evening, and hopes that Hamilton and her husband will be able to call on her if she has no prior engagements. Herries continues on Mailing Abbey, where she has spent the past few days noting that she 'really never did see a house in which ease & elegant Hospitality were more united'. Herries writes a long passage after the signature, of 'a sad business this at Portsmouth', possibly referring to the Spithead mutiny. That even if it was 'terminated now, it is sad as a precedent'. She continues on the subject writing of the 'evils whi[ch]seem to menace this country'. [In April 1797 sailors from the British navy moored at Spithead, Portsmouth mutinied. The mutiny ended the following month.] Herries ends her letter asking Hamilton to give her love to Mrs Hunter [Anne Hunter (1741-1821), daughter of Robert Home and married to the famous anatomist John Hunter] if she sees her, and her best regards to Miss A. [Anna] Clarke (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/10/1'>HAM/1/10/1</a>).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Malling Abbey.</p>