1827-1830] The John Wedgwoods Return Home 219 



but his saying that young ladies are worth nothing after 1 8 

 shows that he is the grandfather of stupidity himself. . . . 

 I envy you two things at this season the peonies and the 

 aunts. I am afraid they will both be out of season and gone 

 when I get home, which I mean to do on the 7th July for a 

 bankruptcy meeting. Give my love to all. I have ordered 

 skulls, 1 do you want any brains ? Your affectionate brother 

 H. A. W. 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Emma Wedgwood. 



CntNE, July Wh, 1829. 



At last I have time to thank you, dearest little Emma, 

 for your sweet letter. It gave me great pleasure in many 

 ways. First and foremost that your affection to me is so 

 vivid that you need the expressing of it now and then. Be 

 certain that you excite my gratitude and warm my love to 

 you whenever I see your handwriting, and read your affec- 

 tionate expressions. We returned last Sunday evening from 

 " sending " the John Wedgwoods, if you know the Cresselly 

 expression, as far as Interlaken. I enjoyed the journey 

 while with them exceedingly, in spite of much bad weather. 

 The return I was more than melancholy, so that the rain, 

 which poured on us for the greatest part of the way, was 

 indifferent to me. After I had got back to Thun, I found I 

 might have finished the day with my beloveds without pro- 

 longing our stay from home, and without increasing our 

 expenses. I was in despair and odiously disagreeable co Sis 

 for the greatest part of the way back. My spirits began to 

 cheer at Bulle, and from Chateau St Denis to Vevay I was 

 again in great enjoyment. But that was Saturday after- 

 noon, and I had been odious since Wednesday one o'clock, 

 when I parted from the dear ones who had made the last 

 8 months so happy, and who had cured me of all my ails. 

 On Sunday we returned from Vevay in the steamboat, 

 having been absent ten days and spent sixteen napoleons. 

 My good health gives me now such strong spirits that little 



1 Probably sculls for the boats on Maer Pool. 



