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. It has been three months since Herries had last received a letter from Hamilton. She knows that Hamilton on occasion writes infrequently and hopes that her present silence is not caused by anything 'unpleasant'. She asks for a line to confirm that she and her family, including her father and sister-in-law, are well. Her friend Mrs [Anne] Hunter was told by Lady Wake (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/8/8'>HAM/1/8/8</a>) that John Dickenson Senior did not go to Hamilton's this year as had been planned (see HAM/1/17/248). She hopes that this is not a result of his health.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Since receiving Hamilton's last letter, Herries has now moved to her 'new old habitation', which she has been in for a number of weeks. She continues on her new home and on her 'misfortune' to have two landlords, though she concedes they are both good men. The landlords live away from each other but always wish to consult each other over such things as repairs. She notes that in the past year she has not been a mile away from Cheltenham. Herries writes of dining with her brother-in-law, Colonel Charles Herries. This was the first time she had seen him since his 'misfortune' [the collapse of his business (see HAM/1/17/234)]. He seems well and spends much of his time in London on account of the Light Horse Volunteers [which he commands] and because his son works in the Treasury [John Charles Herries (1788-1855); in 1798 he was a junior clerk in the Treasury]. They are to give up their house and live in London in a 'very private way'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues her letter on her plans to see Miss Bowdler and perhaps visiting Bath on her return home. She ends her letter with general news of family and acquaintances and by noting that Hamilton will 'have mourned over the event of the Dutch Expedition' [Helder Expedition, Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland]. Mrs Hunter's son 'is amongst the wounded' but is now safe and under the care of his uncle, Mr Home [Sir Everard Home (1756-1832), surgeon], 'who hopes in time to make a good cure of the wound'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>