MAER] Society at Maer Hall 53 



Jos's sister, was a long day's ride of some twenty miles, 

 but the visits between the two houses were frequent. 

 There was a warm friendship between Dr Darwin and hia 

 brother-in-law. Mrs Darwin died in 1817, and is seldom 

 mentioned. Emma Allen wrote, " Mrs Darwin remains 

 here a few days longer. I like her exceedingly but not 

 her children [aged 5 and 3], who are more rude and dis- 

 agreeable than any I ever knew, and yet they are better 

 here than they were at Shrewsbury." The Caldwells of 

 Linley Wood also appear continually on the scene. Anne 

 Caldwell, the eldest daughter, became well known in 

 later life as the author of Two Old Men's Tales, and other 

 novels. 



The picture of Maer given in the old letters makes one 

 feel that few homes could have been happier, or better 

 suited to develop a fine character. There was no idleness, 

 but no bustle or hurry, and an atmosphere of peace and 

 hospitality. The family were all readers, and they all loved 

 the place and its beauty. 



The following is an account by Anne Caldwell 1 of one of 

 Sydney Smith's visits to Maer: " It was his custom to stroll 

 about the room in which we were sitting, and which was 

 lined with books, taking down one lot after another, some- 

 times reading or quoting aloud, sometimes discussing any 

 subject that arose. He took down a sort of record of those 

 men who had lived to a great age. 'A record of little 

 value,' said Mrs. Wedgwood, * as to live longer than other 

 people can hardly be the desire of any one.' ' It is not so 

 much the longevity,' he answered, ' that is valued as the 

 original build and constitution, that condition of health 

 and habit of life which not only leads to longevity, but 

 makes life enjoyable while it lasts, that renders the subject 

 interesting and worth enquiry.' ' You must preach, Mr 

 Smith,' said Mrs Wedgwood (it was Saturday). : We 

 must go and try the pulpit then,' said he, ' to see if it 

 suits me.' So to the church we walked, and how he 

 amused us by his droll way of ' trying the pulpit ' as he 

 called it." 



The family were zealous in all efforts to help their poorer 

 neighbours, Elizabeth especially being often spoken of as 

 overworking herself by all she did for them. Emma Allen, 

 after saying that she should not be afraid of taking charge 

 of her other nieces and making them happy, wrote to Bessy 

 (July 19, 1814), " About a child of yours I could not have 



1 A Group of Englishmen, by Miss Meteyard, p. 388. 



