1814-1815] 63 



CHAPTER V 



18141815 



The Prudent Man's Friend Society The John Wedgwoods and 

 Drewes at Exeter The Battle of Waterloo Ensign Tom Wedg- 

 wood's letters from Waterloo and Paris Fanny Allen's pro- 

 Buonapartism The Maer party at a Race ball. 



I NOW take up the thread of the " Maer Letters." Some 

 of these might have been placed in the third chapter, but as 

 they illustrate the character of the younger generation they 

 group themselves more naturally here. 



Mrs Josiah Wedgwood to her sister Jessie Allen. 



ETRURIA, Feb. 18th, 1814. 



. . . We all returned from Parkfields on Tuesday, having 

 spent a very comfortable week there. Sarah [Wedgwood] 

 was in very cheerful spirits, though I suspect we interrupted 

 her plan of writing. I was very glad to hear from two side 

 winds that she was employed in that way, as I am sure what 

 she does she will do well. We sent our two little boys to 

 school from there, and upon enquiring into the contents of 

 the parting purse I found to my great surprise that there 

 was a guinea hoarded up in it. It was a joint concern and 

 I asked Hensleigh for what purpose. ' I don't like to tell." 

 " Why ?" " I am afraid of being laughed at." " I think 

 you may trust me, I am not used to laugh at you, but how 

 can I know whether it is a proper use V' " It is not an 

 improper use, and we wished to consult you because we did 

 not know what to buy, but the writing master has been 

 very kind to us and we wished to give him something, but 

 it must not be before we go away, or he will think, and the 



