n8 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, vni 



Annie for their very nice notes, which told me a great many 

 things I wished to hear ; they are very nicely written. Give 

 them and my dear Etty and Georgy my best love. This 

 place is looking lovely, but yet I could not live here: the 

 sounds of the town, and blackguards talking, and want of 

 privacy, convince me every time I come here that rurality 

 is the main element in one's home. . . . 



Thursday [SHREWSBURY, probably 25th May, 1848]. 



I keep very well, though unusually heavy. My father 

 had a fair night. He was very cheerful at cards, but the 

 day here is almost continual anxiety. The Owens as usual 

 have found me out : the Queen might as well come incognito 

 here : I hope the Governor 1 will not come over to-morrow. 



Your letters delight me and tell me all the things I most 

 like to hear : I am very sorry that Annie cannot sing, but do 

 not give up too soon. You are a lovely girl, I have just 

 written for you my third note to Mr Blunt. 2 Eras, says 

 that the Ls. having gone to the Queen's Ball, taken with the 

 Prince's speech about the Lodging Houses, show that the 

 Court is determined to encourage the lower orders : I should 

 like to repeat this to the Ls. It is going to be tremendously 



hot to-day. 



Your old Nigger, C. D. 



I am in love with Mme de Sevigne ; she only shams a little 

 virtue. 



My father's words as to his being in love with Madame 

 de Sevigne remind me of the mixture of playfulness, defer- 

 ence, and admiration which made his manner so delightful 

 to any woman who attracted him with whom he was in 

 love as he was pleased to call it. He was often in love with 

 the heroines of the many novels that were read to him, and 

 used always to maintain both in books and real life that a 

 touch of affectation was necessary to complete the charm of 

 a pretty woman. What he meant is rather difficult to under- 



1 Mr Owen of Woodhouse. 



* The Shrewsbury chemist, who was believed at Down to be the 

 best chemist in the world. 



