The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Sir Robert Herries to John Dickenson

Herries, Robert

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Letter from Sir Robert Herries to John Dickenson, thanking him for his letter and for his present of a 'very fine ham that soon followed it'. He continues that Miss [Harriet] Foote did not stay long with them in Cheltenham, as her mother was unhappy 'without her, yet she was obliged to submit to her going to Weymouth with Anna on acco[unt] of the health of the latter'. She is now better and Sir Robert has asked them to come to his house and stay with him and Lady Herries as long as they are able, although he acknowledges that this may be dependent upon Mrs Foote, who is currently staying with her uncle. Sir Robert writes that Lady Herries is somewhat better and often talks of 'her Dear friends at Leighton'. She regrets the distance that separates them and suggests that the air and the water at Cheltenham may be beneficial, particularly to Hamilton who is unwell. He continues that Lady Herries has been drinking the waters every day for the last six weeks.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Turning to politics, Sir Robert writes that we should thank 'our present Ministers for preventing the evils that threatened us in the north, and I trust they will also prevent other evils by retaliating in other quarters before it is too late'. He believes that this can only be done by 'declaring the Continent of Europe in a state of Blockade as well as north america'. Doing so would result in an 'insurrection against the Yoke[?] of B. in Europe & induce the northern Provinces in America to put themselves under our protection against their hotheaded & frenchified bretheren of the south'.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Sir Robert ends the letter by asking to be remembered to the Mrs and Miss Dickenson.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dated at Cheltenham.</p>