72 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, rv 



Sismondi died June 25, 1842, at Geneva. Fanny Allen 

 wrote: "There seems a greater destruction of the living 

 principle in Sismondi than in that of any person I ever 

 knew"; and many years later: ; 'I am still reading with 

 continued interest and pleasure Sis's letteis, but they 

 bring me a painful reproach that I did not value him 

 as he deserved living ; but this, alas ! I might say of 

 everyone almost whom I have lost. I find my life one long 

 regret when I look back on it." She had not always be- 

 haved well to him in old days, so that it is fair to show 

 that after his death she came to a juster estimate of his 

 character. 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Emma Darwin. 



CHENE, Sept. 10 [1842]. 



. . . Nothing you could say would give me pain, dearest 

 Emma. You have no allayed feeling to awaken up; my 

 sorrow never slumbers but when I sleep myself. I am 

 astonished I can, but I do, and eat and am well, and he 

 gone whom I thought I never could survive. He so filled 

 every instant of my life, that now my feeling of desolation 

 passes all description, but that must necessarily be. If I 

 can but keep off the monster despair, which at times ap- 

 proaches so near it makes me tremble, I shall learn to 

 bear my own deprivation, and if at my age it weans me 

 entirely from this world and makes me pant for that other, 

 there is no harm done. If I could but have Mrs Rich's 

 firm faith that he has only passed from the visible to the 

 invisible world, and already lives and is waiting for me, oh 

 what happiness it would be. With what impatience I 

 should endeavour to make ready. 



I am told you have bought a place in the country where 

 you mean to lie in. You must not think of writing to me 

 in your present infirm state, but I long to know you like 

 it, and will be happy in the change. You know that I 

 have agreed to return with Harriet and Eliza next month. 



