1843-1845] The Death of Josiah Wedgwood 83 



him so well, it is to you, who must feel his death the most, 

 that one naturally turns with the greatest pity. I do not 

 think the religious consolation comes immediately, but in 

 the meanwhile you have the sweetest earthly one, the 

 knowledge that you have been the most helpful, cheer- 

 ful and affectionate child that ever father was blessed 

 with. . . . 



Poor Bessy ! I feel for her that she cannot grieve for 

 him as she would have done in time past, the husband whom 

 she loved with such tenderness only a few years ago ! to 

 my mind her life is sadder than death. . . . 



My mother told me that she felt with Fanny Allen that 

 such a life was sadder than death, but that to Elizabeth 

 the remnant of her mother's lovely soul remained her most 

 precious possession. 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Elizabeth Wedgwood. 



SOUTH CLIFF HOUSE [TENBT], July 19th [1843]. 



. . . That I am thinking incessantly of you all just now 

 you will not wonder, and it is a relief to me to do something, 

 tho' it is in fact nothing. But when I have sent off a letter 

 to you however insignificant, I feel lighter, as if I had helped 

 you a little. Every possible case presents itself to my 

 imagination in the constant thought I have of you, and 

 sometimes the fear Bessy might feel a sort of jealousy that 

 all is addressed to you, and nothing to herself, or that she 

 is neglected, set aside as superannuated, and so some 

 mournful feeling be awakened. Then by writing, I so fear 

 to do her harm, to rouse her to a feeling that it is a mercy 

 should lie dormant, that I do not well know what to do. 

 I have at last resolved on writing to her and consigning it 

 to you. . . . 



We have been talking over your father's incomparable 

 kindness to us all our lives through, this morning at break- 

 fast. Not one of our obligations to him was forgotten, but 



