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 Herries's love of Hamilton, her new home in Cheltenham and news of her family.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries writes of her pleasure at receiving Hamilton's letters, the words of which demonstrate her attachment and love. Probably referring to her change in economic circumstances (see HAM/1/17/238), she writes that '[i]t is worthwhile to be unfortunate when it can bring [...] such dear proof the attachment of a friend'. Herries writes on her own love for Hamilton and her family. She wishes to see her but feels it would be unlikely for various reasons.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries and her husband are in 'treaty for another house' in Cheltenham, as the owner of their current house now wants it for himself. Herries intends only to take a house for a year, as she does not want to be tied to 'a place so remote from almost every friend I have on Earth'. Besides, the waters in Cheltenham have not been as successful to her as she had hoped, though she intends to give them another try.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues with general news of her family. Georgiana (see HAM/1/17/234) has 'half killed herself with the fatigues of nursing' her baby. She has had 'bad nights', but is now ' very tolerably well again (after having been laid out[?] with a frightful wound in her foot from running a piece of splintered wood into it'. The foot was 'nearly lost'. Georgiana's baby is now nine months old and has been weaned. He is an 'engaging' baby and strong and she expects him to be able to walk when he reaches one year old. Her sister-in-law, Miss G[race] Herries is with her in Cheltenham. Herries believes that she had previously told Hamilton that Miss Herries came to live with her after the 'misfortune last Summer' (see HAM/1/17/235). It seems likely that she will continue to stay with them. Referring to Hamilton's invitation to stay with her, the letter continues on her hopes of seeing her.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries ends her letter on Louisa Dickenson's education, a new book by Hannah More, which she longs for Hamilton's opinion on it, and on her looking forward to receiving one of Hamilton's journals to read through. She writes on her health, briefly mentions her friend Miss Bowdler and notes that it is 'odd you have not heard of the Palombis'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>