The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Lady Catherine Herries (née Foote), and continuation by Sir Robert Herries on behalf of Lady Catherine Herries,...

Herries (née Foote), Catherine, Herries, Robert

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Lady Catherine Herries to Mary Hamilton, concerning the ill health of Louisa Dickenson.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries begins her letter by noting that Sir Robert has broken the sad news contained in Hamilton's letter to her on Louisa Dickenson's dangerous illness. He did so as gently as he could. Herries wishes he could alleviate Hamilton's suffering. She thanks her friend for considering her feelings at such a time. Herries tries to placate Hamilton by telling her of an acquaintance of hers, a 'sweet woman here [who lost] [...] within nine months four Children the two eldest of seven & eight years old'. She is now 'childless & has bore her sorrows with a Christian Resignation'. Herries knows that Hamilton's 'piety & resignation to be equal to any trial'. She has some hopes that Louisa may recover and knows herself of a girl of her exact age who was told that there was little hope but continued on to make a recovery. Herries continues with advice suggesting the benefits of the air of such places as Cornwall, which are beneficial for the lungs. She advises against Teignmouth, the place where her young sister Mary had died (see HAM/1/17/131), because it 'is much too exposed to the East wind'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues her letter the following day, having suffered a severe headache which prevented her from writing. She asks that, if Hamilton is to come west and within 70 miles of her, she will meet with them, ad she longs to hold her friend to her heart. She asks Hamilton to tell Mrs Morrison [Hamilton's housekeeper] that she feels for her suffering over Louisa as does for all of them. She ends her letter writing of a piece of work Hamilton had sent her and of thinking it was for a Repository they have in Cheltenham, founded by a Mrs Lockhart (see HAM/1/17/263).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Sir Robert continues the letter on his wife's behalf. Lady Herries has left him little space on the sheet except to offer his sympathy. He writes on the importance of moving Louisa to a warmer climate and of arranging for a possible meeting on their way west of the country.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>