MAER] A Family Party 57 



my good will, than with any expectation of finishing my 

 letter for to-night's post, being now waiting for the carriage 

 to take myself and my eight children to pay a visit to the 

 most amiable Griffin, 1 who was rash enough last Sunday to 

 ask us and even to insist upon having the Doveleys of the 

 party. We are now going to set out as many as we can 

 cram in the Gimcrack, and the boys upon the ponies. 



Friday. We went according to promise, and were 

 particularly lucky in having the finest day that ever was 

 seen. Joe was treacherous and did not go, but I went 

 with my eight children. It always makes a scheme so flat 

 when any of the guests secede that I did not go with any 

 very lively expectations, and these were still further quelled 

 when I saw our party. The Miss Griffins, utter strangers, 

 and Mr Ralph Sneyd of Keel, who I thought would be 

 much too fine to bear the company of an old mother and 

 eight children. However I must do the latter the justice 

 to say, he bore it very well, and he seemed to partake so 

 largely of the good humour of our host, that the party 

 went off extremely well. The two sisters were conversable, 

 and rather agreeable; we sat down to an excellent cold 

 dinner at two, and a dessert of the best grapes and a pro- 

 fusion of strawberries and cream which were much relished. 

 Soon after dinner we went into Trentham Park, where we 

 found a very good boat moored, into which we all went, 

 and Mr Sneyd and R. Griffin rowed us while Joe steered. 

 We amused ourselves on the water and in the grounds till 

 it was time to return to tea. We had a good deal of literary 

 conversation, as Mr Sneyd has a very pretty smattering of 

 literary topics and a good deal of taste, though a little 

 affected, and Griffin has great aspirations after the same. 

 We made some attempts at singing, which was the worst 

 part of the entertainment, as my girls are so stupid they 

 cannot sing without music, and after making two or three 

 abortive attempts were forced to give it up. The two little 

 girls were hi silent enjoyment, very grave, and very demure 

 all day, but they were very happy while running about the 



1 A Mr. Griffinhoof, living near Trentham Park. 



