44 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, m 



On Thursday we go to Linley 1 to stay till Saturday and I 

 have issued cards for a grand dinner on the 7th. 



Jessie's praise of Anne Cald well's play is a very striking 

 contrast to Dr Holland's frigid approbation. I have not 

 read it yet, but I shall feel much interest to know what the 

 judges with you say of it. ... 



Jessie Allen to her sister Mrs Josiah Wedgwood. 

 GREAT GEORGE STREET, WEDNESDAY [29 Dec. 1813]. 



. . . On Monday Mackintosh, Fanny [Allen] and I dined 

 with the Bosanquets. We had a pleasant day, but owing 

 to Mackintosh, whom I never saw more excellent. He 

 happened to be well and in good spirits. There was no one 

 particular to excite him; Mr Hallam 2 was the best man 

 after himself, but was better in what he drew from M. than 

 what he produced himself. For once the conversation was 

 general at that house, and well it was for me, as Mr Puller 

 would have been my mate, had Mrs Bos, as is usual with 

 her, made it a St Valentine's Day. The fog was so thick 

 we were almost obliged to feel our way home. It took us 

 above an hour to make the transit, but Mackintosh was as 

 agreeable as it was possible to be, amidst the variety of 

 cautions he was giving John to take care of us. 



Yesterday, Tuesday, we dined at the George Freres, 

 and had a pleasant day amidst a party we did not know, 

 and of no note, but more men than women luckily, and for 

 the most part sensible and unpretending. Mackintosh 

 dined with Ward. We took him up in our way back and 

 passed another very agreeable hour or two in the streets 

 with him, the fog worse than before. He had a most 

 brilliant party at Ward's, but the conversation was not 



1 The Cald wells' house, Linley Wood, near Talk o' th' Hill. r 



2 Henry Hallam (1777 1859), then known as a scholar and 

 Edinburgh Reviewer. He had not yet brought out the book which 

 made his fame as an historian, Europe during the Middle Ages. His 

 son was the " A. H. H." of In Memoriam, through whom the name 

 must live, whatever posterity may think of the father's books. 



