1837-1838] Mrs Norton at Cresselly 283 



spectable, her guilt or innocence she put out of the ques- 

 tion. . . . 



Our ladies are gone, and I have been a good deal amused 

 on the whole. Mrs Norton is a very fine actress, scarcely 

 inferior to Grisi, I think. Her manner is very striking, 

 so perfectly still; which was strongly contrasted by her 

 companion Mrs Barton, who had all the flutter and un- 

 quietness of vanity, that most restless of all feelings. 

 Mrs N. is very beautiful the countenance of a Sybil. She 

 sang several songs to us, some of her own composition, and 

 Moore's, and others; her voice and manner of singing are 

 quite perfect. I have not enjoyed anything so much for a 

 long time as when she sat at the instrument. Mr Sheridan 

 is a sensible man, but he talks little, and leaves the stage 

 clear for his niece, who does her part incomparably, neither 

 talking too much nor too little. Everything she does or 

 says is so perfectly sensible and in good taste, and yet I 

 should say she is not attractive. Mrs Barton sails for 

 Ireland to-night, but I should not be surprised if we were 

 to see Mrs Norton and Mr Sheridan here again; they stay 

 a fortnight longer at Tenby. 



Baugh is in very good spirits and is fully occupied ad- 

 ministering advice and comfort to Mrs Norton, who has 

 carried away the hearts of Harry and Johnny [Fanny 

 Allen's nephews]. They are wild with enthusiasm. Her 

 singing carried all before it. ... 



Emma Wedgwood to her sister-in-law Mrs Henshigh 



Wedgwood. 



MY DEAR FANNY, ONIBURT, Friday [3 Nov., 1837]. 



I set out on my travels last Tuesday week and got 

 to Shrewsbury. Susan was at Woodhouse, but I had 

 plenty of pleasant talk with Catherine, and Susan came 

 home on Friday. She had been to the birth-day at 

 Wynnstay, which is the grandest thing that can be seen; 

 more than 200 people sitting down to a magnificent dinner 



