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 has had no word from Hamilton since April and writes asking for news. Herries had written to her earlier in the month and is anxious over the reasons of her silence.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries arrived in Cheltenham on the 23rd May and has been drinking the waters, but has not as yet seen any benefit from it. The water initially did not seem to agree with her, which she found disappointing, but will continue with it. She intends to stay in Cheltenham until August, perhaps longer. Herries assures Hamilton that she will keep Hamilton informed of her plans.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries asks 'whether anything further has passed about ye P— & whether you are still in expectation of their coming to England' [presumably the Palombis, Hamilton's sister and brother-in-law, who made their home in Naples; see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/3/2'>HAM/1/3/2</a>]. Herries has not the time or the 'eyes for such a letter' as she would wish at the moment and continues on the weather and how the heat gives her both 'restless nights & nearly as unquiet days yet it is gloriously fine'. Possibly referring to the Irish rebellion, she writes 'I would the political atmosphere were as free from clouds -- but alas there seems to be little chance of that'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries reports that Cheltenham is busy, although she 'scarce knows anybody'. Herries ends her letter noting that her companion is as well as can be expected.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>