1819-1823] Bessy at Betley 147 



society, and under very suspicious circumstances. I cannot 

 abandon her also, but I am not sorry that she has set off 

 to-day for Paris. . . . 



Mrs Josiah Wedgwood to her sister Madame Sismondi. 



MAER, Jan. 30, 1823. 



... I am going to begin a letter to you, my beloved Jessie, 

 without knowing when it will be finished; for I am going 

 presently to spend a couple of days at Betley Hall. . . . 

 But I will not fall into egotism before I have told the very 

 great pleasure your last gave me, by entering so fully into 

 your own situation and feelings, and by giving me such an 

 entire conviction of your happiness. Dearest Jessie, how 

 much I am obliged to you for it. What could console us 

 for your distance, but the knowing this ? and how very much 

 does it increase my affection (shall I call it ?) for Sismondi. 

 He would be an odd person if he did not value such a wife, 

 but how many odd ones are there in the world for one Sis- 

 mondi. Give him therefore my love with more than usual 

 warmth. 



Sunday. I took this to Betley on Thursday thinking I 

 might find some odds or ends of time to finish it, but they 

 never came and I brought it home as I took it there. Jos 

 and I, with Elizabeth and the two younger girls, went to 

 pay a friendly visit, where by agreement there was to be no 

 party to meet us. I enjoyed my visit very much, liking Mrs 

 Toilet and the girls so much as I do. We had a great deal of 

 working, talking, and singing. Mrs Toilet is exceedingly 

 religious, and I think her duty to God is the first object of 

 her thoughts. She is also so single-hearted that it is a great 

 pleasure to be with her, and to read a heart so entirely with- 

 out guile. . . . 



I am very much complimented on my improved looks, 

 which only convinces me how ill I looked before. With 

 respect to my soul's health, oh how I wish I was what your 

 too flattering opinion makes me. Do you know that I never 

 feel BO humbled as when I look at the picture in your imagin- 



