228 Mary Somerville. 



not talk much herself, but she had the tact to lead 

 conversation. She and her sister received every 

 evening a select society in their small house in 

 Curzon Street. Besides any distinguished foreigners 

 who happened to be in London, among their 

 habitual guests were my friend, Lady Charlotte 

 Lindsay, always witty and agreeable, the brilliant 

 and beautiful Sheridans, Lady Theresa Lister, after- 

 wards Lady Theresa Lewis, who edited Miss Berry's 

 "Memoirs," Lord Lansdowne, and many others. Lady 

 Davy came occasionally, and the Miss Fanshaws, 

 who were highly accomplished, and good artists, 

 besides Miss Catherine Fanshaw wrote clever vers 

 de societe, such as a charade on the letter H, and, if 

 I am not mistaken, " The Butterfly's Ball," &c. I 

 visited these ladies, but their manners were so cold 

 and formal that, though I admired their talents, I 

 never became intimate with them. On the con- 

 trary, like everyone else, I loved Mary Berry, she 

 was so warm-hearted and kind. When London 

 began to fill, and the season was at its height, the 

 Miss Berrys used to retire to a pretty villa at 

 Twickenham, where they received their friends to 

 luncheon, and strawberries and cream, and very 

 delightful these visits were in fine spring weather. 

 I recollect once, after dining there, to have been 

 foruntate enough to give a place in my carriage to 



