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. The letter relates to the divorce of Sir Robert Herries's daughter [Nina] from Lady Herries's brother [Edward Foote], and to general news on the health of Hamilton and Herries.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Lady Herries hopes that Nina Herries's religious and moral upbringing 'may prevent her falling again into vice' (see HAM/1/17/270].The 'painful subject' of Nina and Edward Foote's divorce 'has for some [time] occupied so sadly our thoughts'. She believes that Nina regrets her behaviour but fears that she has not 'yet the Christian sorrow for having offended her maker'. Herries hopes that the divorce will go through before the session of Parliament has ended, but she is not sure that it will do so. Edward Foote's expenses are 'enormous [...] to say nothing of [...] [his] vexation & misery'. Herries writes that he is bearing his ordeal well and is to go to his cousins in Kent for a fortnight and to their elder brother's, Robert Foote. Edward and Nina's children are at Herries's elder brother's house. Herries notes that Robert Foote's wife has been 'kind' throughout the business. The letter continues on the children, one of which is to stay with Lady Herries [Caroline, see HAM/1/17/278]. She will do what she can to bring her up 'good & amiable -- alas! I did you know with her mother [Nina]. God grant I may succeed better'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries continues the letter on the subject of law and her husband Sir Robert's law suit, which has been deferred. Whilst she notes that justice may be on her side, the law may not be, which is why they wish to try and reach a compromise.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Herries writes on Louisa Dickenson, of her hope of seeing Hamilton and on her own and Hamilton's poor health. She continues with general news. Her friend Miss Frances Bowdler is currently in Pisa. Herries has read <i>The Wife & Mishap</i>, parts of which resemble the Duchess of Devonshire and Lady Spencer.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>