1827-1830] Bessy on her Children's Future 215 



minded, steady, and just what an English merchant (if you 

 can call him such) ought to be, exact to punctilio in all his 

 dealings, active and industrious. My daughters are also 

 excellent. As I conceal nothing from you, I may confess 

 that my hopes of seeing them happily settled in life diminish 

 every year, and are now grown very flat. But these are 

 worldly views, and I hope they will also every year give 

 way to something better, and if we cannot turn the tide of 

 prosperity our own way, I hope we may learn to be content 

 without it. All this is under the rose. They are all too 

 greedy after any letters of yours to let me easily keep them 

 to myself; therefore take no notice. You will I daresay 

 have heard from Jenny [Mrs John Wedgwood] from Havre. 

 I am very sorry they are gone abroad, because I fear the 

 expense for them and they do not know how to do upon a 

 little. I am a little vexed and mortified that they have 

 given up all thoughts of settling in Staff ordshire. Jenny 

 and I have lived many years in close neighbourhood without 

 the shadow of disagreement or coolness, and I should like to 

 have tried once more and finished our lives so. Many loves 

 from here to you and Sis, and pray give my love to poor 

 Ned. Ever yours, dearest of the dear, E. W. 



The John Wedgwoods were a much- wandering family. 

 In the summer of this year they were at Honfleur in Nor- 

 mandy, and by the autumn in Geneva, where they remained, 

 either with or near the Sismoiidis, for about eight months. 

 In the summer of 1829 they were in Italy, and on getting 

 back to England settled themselves for a time in a house, 

 " The Hill," near Abergavenny. 



In June 1828 the Drewe-Prevost engagement ended by 

 the lovers marrying. Bessy, in the many discussions on 

 this subject, was characteristically calm as compared with 

 the impetuous Jessie. After their marriage the breeze 

 calmed down, so far at least as the letters show, and Adele 

 was warmly welcomed by her mother-in-law when they came 

 to England. 



The Mackintoshes had now made a home at Clapham 

 near their friends the Thorntons. Harriet Surtees, who 

 visited all her sisters in her widowhood, was described as 

 having recovered her health and beauty. Kitty Mackintosh 



