1853-1859] Sydney Smith's Memoirs 155 



without stirrups and got some bad falls in consequence. 

 George at ten years old went off a twenty mile ride alone to 

 Hartfield, and I, too, wandered about the lonely woods and 

 lanes in a way that was not very safe then, although it would 

 be much less so now, when tramps have greatly increased in 

 number. 



About 1854 Elizabeth Wedgwood took charge of her old 

 governess Miss Langdon. None of the family had ever been 

 fond of her, and in her latter days she was certainly the 

 most unattractive old lady I ever saw, nearly stone deaf, 

 with a harsh countenance, and a voice like a parrot's. She 

 lived under our aunt Elizabeth's sheltering care till her 

 death. Fanny Allen wrote: "I admire your benevolence, 

 and your arrangement for Miss Langdon, and I feel assured 

 that you will have the satisfaction that always accompanies 

 acts of this kind. I have no doubt also that you are right 

 as to placing her under your roof. I believe she will be a 

 less gene there than a mile off. And, indeed, it is you alone 

 that can be judge in this matter and what you think best is 

 best, as it touches you alone. I am glad you secure your 

 breakfast undisturbed, and that your evenings also will be, 

 as they have hitherto been, unaccompanied, so that I trust 

 you will find nothing in this plan, save the content of helping 

 a solitary and desolate person who has no power of repay- 

 ment." 



Fanny Allen to her niece Elizabeth Wedgwood. 



MY DEAR ELIZABETH, Dec - I5th > 1854 - 



It is well for me that you date by the days of the 

 week which saves shame at idleness, not that I have been 

 idle, but rather too busy to write, our leisure hours being 

 taken up with reading Sydney's Memoirs. Anything about 

 Sydney Smith interests me and therefore I read with interest 

 Saba's 1 part of the book, and she has done it quite as well 

 as you would expect. It is pleasant to be taken out of the 

 stern reality of life, in -yhich we are now living through the 

 newspapers all the morning, to the light gossip and the 

 playful gaiety of Sydney, and his letters made one forget 

 the miseries of the Crimea and Scutari, after tea at least. 



1 His daughter, Lady Holland. 



