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 apologises for her delay in writing to inform Hamilton that she had received her letter and packet. She has been suffering once more from her eye complaint and, because of this and because of her being '[a]bsorbed in the business of Mrs Lockhart's repository for the poor', she has been reading Hamilton's letter in sections and has only just completed it and read that Hamilton had asked her to confirm receipt by return post. Herries found the contents of the packet of great interest and assures her friend that she will burn them shortly.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>She continues with general family news and on Hannah More. Mrs Edward Foote [Nina] and her children are with Herries and are to stay for a month. Edward is with his ship in the East Indies but hopes to return soon. Sir Robert believes that 'any peace is a good thing' and is hopeful that it will be kept. Herries moves on to their mutual friend, Hannah More. Herries has heard that More is in poor health and 'spirits'. This is on account of the Blagdon School business. [In 1800 More was caught up in a controversy: More had set up a Sunday School in Blagdon and the controversy related to whether the schools were Methodist, whether the poor should be educated and whether or not the school was set up with the consent of the clergy in the area.] Herries ends her letter asking for Hamilton's opinion 'on the transaction' and by asking whether Sir William [Hamilton] is coming to see her, '& who was with him?'</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>