1818] A Picnic at Montmorenci ng 



Elizabeth Wedgwood to her father in England. 



KUE CAUMAKTIN, May 24, 1818. 



. . . We had a day at Montmorenci last week with 

 Mr Clifford and the Caldwells which I enjoyed very much, 

 The weather, was delicious, we mounted our asses and went 

 into the woods, which are the prettiest things now you can 

 imagine, fine chestnut trees over grass, and a great deal of 

 copse of chestnut, which makes by far the prettiest kind of 

 underwood, so soft and rich and thick, and without brambles. 

 We took a baggage ass with provisions, and three ragged 

 boys to drive, and spent all the day under the trees. It 

 was amusing to see the difference between our two French 

 servants and any English ones. They were playing all 

 manner of pranks with the asses and screaming and laughing 

 like boys, quite as much at ease as if we were not looking 

 on. They enjoyed the day full as much as we. Ernma and 

 Fanny were very happy on their asses, and quacked accord- 

 ingly. Last night we had our soiree which Mr Clifford 

 foretold before you went. It did as well as a collection of 

 people, few of whom knew one another, could do. There 

 was a whist party for the Baronne de Barbier, who is a fat, 

 happy-looking woman. Sismondi and Mr Newnham had 

 a political discussion; John Blunt had the Caldwells to 

 talk to, and Mrs Strolling sang several songs with a very 

 fine voice indeed but not near so well as we heard her 

 at her own house. 



We had a dutiful day with the Truanderie last week. 

 They came and drank tea as well as the Caldwells. Mme 

 Collos refused an invitation to our soiree, which I was glad 

 of I confess. Mamma was very tolerably satisfied with our 

 performance last night, and with flowers and a lustre the 

 room looked very pretty. 



