22 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, n 



of my sisters in the way I wish to hear them talked of, as 

 the very first of women. " I cannot tell you," he told me, 

 " how much I admire and like all your sisters ; they have a 

 warmth and friendliness of manner that is delightful, but I 

 think that Mrs Jos Wedgwood surpasses you all." 



I think I have given you a very exact account of our- 

 selves since you left us, and answered all your questions 

 with the exception of the one about our friend B., which 

 I really don't know how to answer. I think we are just in 

 the same state as when you left us, not advanced and I 

 don't think gone back, and most probably in the same place 

 we shall ever be. He goes with us I believe to the play on 

 Friday to see Mrs Siddons in Desdemona. . . . 



Mrs Josiah Wedgwood to her sister Fanny Allen. 



GUNVILLE, Sunday [15th or 22nd January, 1804]. 



... I am glad you were too honest a girl to coquet or 

 disqualify about B., 1 and I depend upon your telling me 

 the whole truth and nothing but the truth. . . . 



We are going on very harmoniously. Surtees is in 

 high good humour, but so fidgetty that I don't wonder 

 that Harriet is so thin; she looks very well, but I think 

 she is flat. I cannot join Jessie in thinking she is anything 

 like a happy woman. Her spirits are not low, but there 

 is no spring, no liveliness or self -enjoyment at all. I don't 

 know whether she was naturally so grave, or whether it 

 is acquired of late years, but we have had no sort of 

 epanchement de caur. 1 have not ventured upon any 

 leading conversation, nor has she led to anything of that 

 sort; and I daresay we shall not. She seems rather pleased 

 at the thoughts of this ball at Blandford, and desires you 

 will not forget to send her clothes off in time. In looking 

 over the account of the birthday the first person that struck 

 my eye was Lady Mackintosh. I take for granted you were 

 in the presence chamber with Miss Stewart, a parcel of 

 shabby plebeians, looking on the honours that had fallen upon 

 1 It is not known who B. was, nor whether he ever proposed. 



