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 longs to hear from Hamilton more often than she does, even if the letter would be full of repetition. Hamilton's letters offer her comfort and Herries is often uneasy as to the cause of her silence if she does not hear from her. Herries writes of John Dickenson's invitation to visit them once more. She is grateful for the invite and has held off writing back with an answer because of some things being 'hanging in suspense which prevented' her being able to give her a positive reply. The letter continues with her suggestions and plans regarding a possible visit.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries refers to Hamilton's own letter, which contained information on finance, taxes and on a monetary dispute with John Dickenson Senior. Herries writes that even 'very good people being at times different from themselves -- else I should wonder why your good father in law should withhold his usual kindness of the assessed Taxes / income Tax the same thing because he had lent him a sum w[hic]h he knew was appropriated to another purpose'. She continues that 'he could afford it & if not why not say so at once'. Herries assures her friend that such information will remain private to her.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The letter ends with general news of family and acquaintances, including the possible author of the plays referred to by Herries in her last letter HAM/1/17/251. It is said that the author is from within the [Hunter] family, 'at least the world says they are written by Miss Baillie, sister to the Physician and niece to John Hunter -- they however do not own this -- it will come out soon'. [This refers to <i>Plays on the Passion</i>, written anonymously by Joanne Baillie.] Herries also informs Hamilton that it is not Lady Cunynghame's father who had died but her uncle John Udny, 'Consul at Leghorn' (Livorno, Italy).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>