1832-1834] Hensleigh's Scruple as to taking Oaths 257 



had much better have her for a week to set them to rights, 

 and I am sure she would do more than C. in a month. 



The other day Miss Martineau 1 dined at Clapham with 

 Mrs Marsh, and she made Fanny feel very awkward by 

 saying, " I was much distressed to hear from several quarters 

 that you were disgusted at my conversation some time ago." 

 I don't know what answer Fanny made, but it was true 

 that we were all rather shocked at some of her opinions on 

 matrimony, and we had been talking about it to Mrs Marsh, 

 and I have no doubt that was the way it came round to her 

 in some of their arguments on that subject. Miss M. took 

 such a fancy to Fanny that I am sorry she found out she 

 had not pleased her, and it showed great good nature her 

 mentioning it in that open way to her. We were all rather 

 contrite at having said anything about her opinions to 

 Mrs Marsh and Dr Holland ; and it was partly our fault, as 

 we drove her on to say that she thought marriage ought 

 to be dissoluble for any cause however slight. It is a pity 

 her being so open, as it will excite a great prejudice against 

 her and make people consider her, though very unjustly, as 

 if she was not a moral person. She is so happy, good- 

 humoured and conceited that she will not much mind what 

 people say of her. I scorn to spin out a letter, so I will 

 wish you good-bye, my dearest. 



The following letter relates to the proposed resignation by 

 Hensleigh of his Police Magistracy, on account of his scruples 

 with regard to administering oaths. He put off the final 

 step till 1837. 



Josiah Wedgwood to Monsieur and Madame Sismondi. 



MY DEAR JESSIE AND SISMONDI, MAER Dec - 21, 1833. 



I received your affectionate and most gratifying 

 letter only last night, and I must not lose a day to send you 

 my cordial thanks for it. You will have heard that Hens- 



1 Harriet Martineau (at this time thirty-one years old), was be- 

 coming a literary lion through the great success of her Politica) 

 Economical stories. 



