24 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, n 



to her evening party on Sunday last. On the whole I was 

 very glad Kitty went to Court. It was something for her to 

 think of, and above all there is nothing like a little vanity to 

 buoy up the spirits. 



By the way you did me very great injustice in supposing 

 I added to S. Smith's speech concerning you, for I will not 

 call it a compliment. I never think a compliment worth 

 repeating that I am obliged to add to. As a punishment 

 for your unbelief, I have a great mind not to tell you that, 

 instead of adding, I kept back part of the good things he 

 said of you. Mackintosh, Kitty and I dined with the 

 Smiths on Sunday last, and I have scarcely ever passed a 

 pleasanter or merrier day. The company as usual were 

 Sharp, Rogers, Homer and Boddington. We remained 

 there till twelve, and you will accuse me, I suppose, of 

 gross flattery, if I were to tell you, you were again the sub- 

 ject of a very warm eulogium from more of the gentlemen 

 than Sydney Smith. It was a very humorous dispute and 

 amused me very much. I will not detail it you, because 

 of your unbelief. But Sydney put an end to that part of it 

 which treated of the different degrees of dependence they 

 could place in you and my other sisters in case of any 

 emergency, by declaring he would rely on your kindness to 

 nurse him during a fever, and Jenny's only in a toothache 

 this was unanswerable and unanswered. They have asked 

 me to spend a few days with them this next week, which I 

 think I shall do. I expect Sydney almost every minute to 

 fix the day. I am happy to have it in my power to cultivate 

 a friendship with them both ; I have met with no people in 

 London that I like so much as I do them, or who have showed 

 me more unremitting kindness. . . . 



Mrs Josiah Wedgwood to her husband. 



GUNVILLE, Sunday Morning, May 5th [1805]. 



MY DEAR Jos, 



The only thing that has occurred since I wrote last 

 has been the taking of poor Job Harding by the Press-gang, 



