Notebooks, 1789-1797.

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Notebooks, 1789-1797.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702184305

Manuscript, in a single hand, of a collection of excerpts of letters, in four volumes, from Mary Berry to Damer, transcribed and edited by Damer. The notes refer primarily to their passionate friendship and confidence in each other; their ill health, both mental and physical; and introspective commentary upon the reasons for their melancholy moods. Few of the entries are dated, and mutual acquaintances are left unnamed or else mentioned by initials only. Berry describes their friendship as having "become such a part of myself, or rather of something much dearer than myself, that I can neither live without it, nor dissatisfied with it, nor with the idea of ever being deprived of it." In Vol. 2, she mentions she has waited all day for her correspondent to visit her, having hoped that each carriage passing by will stop at her door. Elsewhere, she complains that her friend is leaving for Tours without her and of feeling "continual pains in my head, restless nights & miserable feels of weakness & langour." Other excerpts address Berry's thoughts on William Fawkener, Damer's suitor; Damer's persecution by the press; a crisis in their friendship at the end of July 1794 resulting in Berry's desire to distance herself from Damer socially, and then her decision to weather out the public attacks on their relationship; and Berry's secret courtship by General Charles O'Hara and its disintegration.

4 v. ; 15 cm.

Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 8026268

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Berry, Mary, 1763-1852

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qg9j06 (person)

Epithet: Miss British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001346.0x000131 Mary Berry was an English non-fiction writer born in Kirkbridge, North Yorkshire. She is best known for her letters and journals, namely Social Life in England and France from the French Revolution, published in 1831, and Journals and Correspondence, published after her death in 1865. Berry became notable through her association with clo...

O'Hara, Charles, 1740-1802.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6988s38 (person)

Berry, Agnes, 1764-1852

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60z7nj5 (person)

Fawkener, William

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d5163g (person)

Damer, Anne Seymour, 1748 or 1749-1828

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pn9q7t (person)

Anne Seymour Damer, English sculptor and author. In her youth, Horace Walpole was often her guardian while her parents were abroad. Through Walpole Damer met the poet Mary Berry, with whom she would share a long friendship. Other friends included Joanna Baillie and Sarah Siddons. According to her wishes, her private papers were destroyed upon her death. From the guide to the Anne Seymour Damer manuscript material : 1 item, pre-1824, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer C...