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, relating to Elizabeth Carter and John Dickenson Senior.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries writes of the recovery of the health of Hamilton's father-in-law, John Dickenson Senior, and on how happy he should be to have two such children as his son and daughter, Sarah, as well as Mary herself to look after him. 'His age & his recovery put me in mind of our poor dear Mrs Carter', who Herries has received a letter from in which she 'gave a comfortable account of herself only that she feels a want of strength, her age & power of application'. Though Herries notes that Carter's letter is as 'clear' and as 'well written' as any other she had received from her over the last ten years, writing tires. She notes that 'recovery is wonderful & I trust that both she & your good old man [John Dickenson Senior] may yet be spared fair some time'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues on Louisa Dickenson's recovery and advises taking her to a warm climate for a year or two if possible to benefit her lungs. Herries had returned from her visit to Bath almost five weeks ago. She had stayed there over five weeks and reports that she did feel stronger after drinking the waters. 'In short like one taking a cordial'. Her health has since declined on her return home and she has suffered a 'violent attack in head & stomach'. Whilst in Bath, she saw Hamilton's friend Mrs Preston, whom Herries found to be charming and agreeable. Mrs Preston is now at Lord Harcourt's. She asks Hamilton to remember her to Preston if she writes. She continues with news of acquaintances. Mrs FB [Frances Bowdler + is with her sister at Bath, and was also very 'kind' to her whilst there. Miss Bowdler intends to go abroad for her health when a suitable ship is available. Herries feels that when she does so, this will be the last time they will see her.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues the letter on Hannah More, who had left Bath just before Herries arrived. Her sister left a day or so later. What a stir the Blagdon affair has made 'in the world of Bath & it's Vicinities (see HAM/1/17/263)'. More has been 'miserably ill & her Spirits sadly harassed all the winter' over this controversy. The change of scene has benefited her, so Herries has heard. Herries has not heard anything concerning Mrs Garrick (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/6/6'>HAM/1/6/6</a>) and has heard nothing about the 'rich widow' Hamilton had written of. She continues with her regret that Hamilton has lost the De Salises as neighbours (see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink uom-purple' href='https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-ham/ham/1/21'>HAM/1/21</a>), with news of Sir Robert Herries and with gossip regarding Sir William and Lady C. [probably Lady Mary Cunynghame]. She writes on Lady C.'s behaviour to her father and cannot believe that she ever behaved badly towards him, and that he treated her unkindly making it impossible to go to his house. Herries will not comment on how Sir William and Mr Udny [Robert Udny, West Indies Merchant, d.1802] behaved towards each other. She continues on Lady C.'s father's estate, on the legacy left and on an entailment of property in Scotland.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>