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 refers to her last letter to Hamilton (see HAM/17/221), which she wrote a few days before leaving London for Brighthelmstone, whence she has returned today. She has not heard from Hamilton for some time and hopes that the silence is not caused by any illness in her family. Rather than waiting to hear from her, Herries is determined to write to her, as she has received a letter from their mutual friend Mrs [Elizabeth] Carter asking her to forward something to Hamilton. Herries has kept it a day, hoping to get a frank to forward it on, but concedes, as many of the people are currently away from town.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries is shortly to travel to Bath. She had intended to leave Brighton for London earlier but was delayed by having to wait to receive Mrs Foote [née Nina Herries], who was travelling to Kent. Herries assumes that Miss Dickenson (presumably Hamilton's sister-in-law, Sarah Dickenson) is with her and knows the pleasure such visits give to both Hamilton and Miss Dickenson. She wishes she herself could visit her.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter continues on Herries's plans, her friend Mr Bayne (see HAM/17/221), whom she saw in Brighton and who she reports looks better than he did before he went to the West Indies. The letter ends on Herries's and Sir Robert's health, with her regards for Hamilton's family and of news she writes that she 'fear[s] there is very little prospect of peace' in France.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at St. James's Street, [London].</p>