Anne Home Hunter and her friends / [Jane M. Oppenheimer].

  • Oppenheimer, Jane M. (Jane Marion), 1911-1996.
Date:
[1946]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Anne Home Hunter and her friends / [Jane M. Oppenheimer]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    though the most magnificent; nor would probably be the last, were I likely to go my full time with two- or three-and-twenty others, of which I am pregnant—I must not say big., as a word unsuitable to my skeleton—my fingers literally re¬ sembling the bag of eggs in a fowl, as you may have observed.20 The visit by the Hunters that Walpole anticipated never took place: just a fortnight later Walpole was writing to his young correspondent Mary Berry: “I have just heard that Dr. [sic] Hunter is dead suddenly at St. George’s Hospital. ... I am heartily concerned for her, who you know is a great favourite with me. You will not see me soon sitting between Lady Louisa and Mrs. Carter!”21 Walpole continued to regret the loss of Mrs. Hunter’s companionship, and the following month he wrote again to Mary Berry from Strawberry Hill: “What could I do with myself in London? All my playthings are here, and I have no playfellows left there! Lady Herries’s and poor Mrs. Hunter’s are shut up.”22 But the exact magnitude for his feelings towards Anne is probably best revealed in a spontaneous and self-explanatory letter of 20 October 1793 to Nares: I am exceeding grieved for the great misfortune that has happened to Mrs. Hunter, and I heartily regret the very amiable Doctor. This is what I must in truth and justice say to everybody on this melancholy occasion, though I hope less necessary to say to you than to most persons, as I trust you are persuaded of the sincere regard I had for both. But I am so circumstanced, that I flatter my¬ self you will forgive me as my friend for consulting you in my distress. Mrs. Hunter (for which I shall always acknowledge myself infinitely obliged to her, as it proves her being convinced of my perfect esteem and friendship for her) has ordered me to be acquainted with her great loss. The letter is signed M. Baillie— unfortunately I do not know whether the notice comes to me from a lady or a gentleman, and I should be miserable to return an improper answer—indeed I am more miserable not to be able to return an immediate answer. It would be too presuming to write to Mrs. Hunter herself, though my heart is warm with grief and gratitude. Be so good, dear Sir, as to advise me wrhat to do; and allow me earnestly to entreat you whenever you shall have an opportunity of seeing Mrs. Hunter, and of naming me without impropriety, to assure her that nothing but delicacy and respect for her unhappy situation, prevents me endeavouring this very moment to express the part I take in this sad event. Mrs. Hunter has before and now honoured me by distinguished goodness; and I should be ungrateful indeed, and insensible too, if I did not feel her kindness as thankfully, as I thor¬ oughly honour and respect her virtues and talents. 10 Walpole, Letters (ed. Toynbee) 15.211. vide Walpole, Correspondence (Yale ed.) II Ibid. 15. 228-29. Lady Louisa was Lady 12.38. Louisa Macdonald according to Mary Berry; M Walpole, Letters (ed. Toynbee) 15. 248.