The Mary Hamilton Papers : Letter from Julia Henrietta de Salis (née Blosset) to Mary Hamilton

De Salis (née Blosset), Julia Henrietta

The Mary Hamilton Papers

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Despite the expense that Harriet de Salis's letter will cost Hamilton, she could not resist writing as she wishes to know how she and her family are. Probably referring to influenza, de Salis asks Hamilton to assure her that they are all free of 'this plague [...] I can not call it any thing less ... [and that] the philosophers, who in my humble opinion often talk a great deal of nonsense said that it was carried by [...] air', and by numerous other means that she cannot remember. She continues on the subject noting that hardly anyone had 'escaped it' and that she, her husband and her maid had amongst others had been ill.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>De Salis continues her letter on Hastings and on Lord Fitzgerald[?], who is visiting with two of his sons whilst his wife recovers from the recent birth of their daughter. She carries on the subject of politics and with news of friends. De Salis reports that her sister is back home with her and that she has not suffered from influenza, and hopes she does not get it as she has been ill enough.</p>