Letters : M. Berry … 1846-1850

Berry, Mary, 1763-1852

Letters : M. Berry … 1846-1850.

Holograph of a collection of notes and personal memoranda. The volume begins with a description of a dream, dated August 1840, in which she imagines she is with child, from which she awakes in tears, recalling that she has never possessed either husband or child, and has long survived that “Friend” who had been such a comfort to her. Following this recollection and dated 9 May 1842, she reminisces about her past vigor of body and mind, including extraordinary sense of sight and hearing, and notes how these senses are diminishing with age; she also mentions her quickness of mind which was nurtured by those to whom she was devoted. The volume concludes with a brief essay titled The apocalypse, which analyzes the Book of Revelation.

Letters : M. Berry ... 1846-1850...5 items (17 p.) ; 18 cm. or smaller.

Mary Berry (1763-1852), author, was born at Stanwick, Yorkshire. She and her sister Agnes began a close friendship with Horace Walpole in 1788, who spoke of them as his “twin wives.” He established the sisters at Teddington, in 1789, and two years later offered them the use of his own secondary residence, Little Strawberry Hill. Berry became engaged to General Charles O’Hara (c.1740-1802) about October 1795, though the couple separated in 1796. In 1824 the sisters took up residence in Curzon Street, where they established a salon frequented by many prominent figures in society; Berry’s acquaintances included William Thackeray, Maria Edgeworth, and Madame de Staël. Her literary productions include the comedy Fashionable Friends; A comparative view of the social life of England and France from the Restoration of Charles the Second to the French Revolution (1828) and its sequel Social Life in England and France from the French Revolution in 1789 to that of July 1830 (1831); and an edition of the Works of Horace Walpole (1798).

Subjects (Library of Congress): Berry, Mary, 1763-1852; Bible. N.T. Revelation–Commentaries; Dreams; Women authors, English–18th century.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July, 2010

Letter : to Hannah More, [1789?] Mar. 11

Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797

Letter : to Hannah More, [1789?] Mar. 11.

LWL Mss Group 1 File 15

ALS from Walpole to Hannah More, and signed “yrs most sincerely HWalpole” in which he begs for news of her health after hearing that she was unwell. He refers to the mobs celebrating in London, presumably alluding to the celebrations on the news of George III’s recovery from insanity.

Letter : to Hannah More: 1 item ([2] p.) ; 19 cm., mounted to 21 cmSubjects (Library of Congress): More, Hannah, 1745-1833; Walpole Horace, 1717-1797; Women authors

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July, 2010

Letter : Florence, to Mary Berry, 1819 Sept. 11

Albany, Louise Maximiliane Caroline Emanuele, Princess of Stolberg-Gedern, calling herself Countess of, 1752-1824

Letter : Florence, to Mary Berry, 1819 Sept. 11.

LWL Mss File 33

ALS written in the author’s hand and signed by the author, an affectionate and friendly letter sending greetings to both Berry sisters as well as discussing medical remedies and visits from compatriots to Florence, including Lady Charlemont with her sister and her mother.

Letter : Florence, to Mary BerrySubjects (Library of Congress): Albany, Louise Maximiliane Caroline Emanuele, Princess of Stolberg-Gedern, calling herself Countess of, 1752-1824; Berry, Agnes, 1764-1852; Berry, Mary, 1763-1852; Women authors.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July 2010

Letter : to Elizabeth Montagu, 29 July [1785?]

Cambridge, Richard Owen, 1717-1802

Letter : to Elizabeth Montagu, 29 July [1785?].

LWL Mss File 34

ALS to Elizabeth Montagu written in the author’s hand and signed by the author, in which after expressing his regret at not seeing her in London, recommends she send for the poems of Edward Lovibond and read only “The Mulberry Tree”.

Letter : to Elizabeth Montagu, 29 July [1785?] Subjects (Library of Congress): Cambridge, Richard Owen, 1717-1802; Lovibond, Edward, 1724-1775; Montagu, Mrs. (Elizabeth), 1720-1800; Women authors; Authors; Poets.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July 2010