Gisborne, Mary Babington

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 16 March [1815]

I have just got a long letter from dear Mary Gisborne replete with sorrow, affection and the deepest piety. How stupid, in ’s prejudiced bigoted ^* to obstruct the very desirable plans of and to write a Memoir of the dear departed! I have written to to try to soften her brother Bartlett’s-Buildings heart.^* Poor I hear looks sadly, has a pain in her chest and drinks Asses Milk. I tremble for her life. Her letters rather increase in sadness, but it is a sanctified sadness. – I forgot to say that Mr. H. and I agreed that nothing would so much contribute to give Mr. S. a habit of application as to give him a slight tincture of Fractions, and Algebra; not to make him a Mathematician but to tie down his attention – I know of no person likely to suit ’s friend as a Governess. You ask how I like W. Scott’s new Poem.^* I have not seen it, but do not hear it thought equal to its predecessors. A friend has sent me Eustace’s Tour thro Italy.^* It is classical & elegant in a high degree – but has too much Republicanism too little of the Manners of the people, and I think a disposition to overrate their Virtues – God be praised for the peace!^* – but what Peace so long as the Witchcrafts of Bonaparte are so many. is in very poor health. We all join in kind remembrances to Yr. Ladyship and .

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 25 March [1815]

^* declines interfering, but says /again/ the Gisborne’s^* are the proper people if any assurance is necessary, which she does not think will be the case; but she does not /see/ the strong prejudices of her brother as I, and others see them.

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 25 March [1815]

and Mary Gisborne had been proposed as the authors of the planned memoir of John Bowdler.

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, [20? October 1815] [incomplete]

has been staying here. She is going to meet dear Mary Gisborne at s the father of near Town. I fear, owing to the prejudices of this father, the much desired Memoir by and Mr. Inglis does not proceed.^* What a pity! Doubtless Mrs. Henry and Miss Gisborne had promised themselves a sadly pleasing meeting. But a higher interview I trust has taken place between our dear departed with her own husband and the lover of her friend.^*

To Lady Olivia Sparrow, 27 March [1817]

We lately crammed in six Gisbornes; but such was the uncomfortable state of our family, that we could only keep them two or three days. Indeed it was as much as they could spare us. Poor Mary looks the picture of silent woe. She is indignant both at the Memoir and the picture which are prefixed to the two Valuable Volumes, and deeply hurt that no kind of notice is taken of herself.^*