Mary Berry, Journal, 24 April 1808: 'In the evening, after dinner, I read aloud the sketch of my preface [to the letters of Mme du Deffand], and finished the evening with Ashe's Travels, which are very entertaining.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 22 September 1808, during stay at Bothwell Castle, seat of Lord Douglas: 'I read to Lady Douglas my sketch of a preface for the Letters [of Madame du Deffand], with which she seemed well pleased. Finished reading "The Tale of the Times," a novel, which, like most other novels, begins better than it finishes.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 28 April 1809: 'In the morning I saw Joanna [Baillie]. She stayed nearly an hour with me. I read to her my "Notice upon Madame du D----'s Life," with which she was so pleased that I could not but feel very much flattered.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 12 May 1809: 'This morning I had the Bishop of Rodez with me for nearly two hours. I read to him my preface and my "Notice on the Life [of Madame du Deffand], &c., &c.," with which he was well pleased, saying it was impossible to give a more faithful picture of the person whom he had known during the latter years of his life in great intimacy.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 12 May 1809: 'This morning I had the Bishop of Rodez with me for nearly two hours. I read to him my preface and my "Notice on the Life [of Madame du Deffand], &c., &c.," with which he was well pleased, saying it was impossible to give a more faithful picture of the person whom he had known during the latter years of his life in great intimacy.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 31 March 1810: 'Mr Sydney Smith with me in the morning, looking critically over my Preface [to her edition of the Letters of Madame du Deffand] and Life [of Madame du Deffand]. Much mended by his observations, upon which I am to work, and I set to it as soon as he was gone.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: The Rev. Sydney Smith Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 31 March 1810: 'Mr Sydney Smith with me in the morning, looking critically over my Preface [to her edition of the Letters of Madame du Deffand] and Life [of Madame du Deffand]. Much mended by his observations, upon which I am to work, and I set to it as soon as he was gone.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: The Rev. Sydney Smith Manuscript: Unknown
John Playfair to Mary Berry, 22 September 1810, in response to her edition of the Letters of Madame du Deffand, received three days previously: 'The preface is excellent, very well written and very judicious. The notes bespeak that great familiarity with the characters and persons who figure in the book, whch cannot be acquired by reading [...] I find a great deal of amusement and interest in the few letters I have yet read'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: John Playfair Print: Book
'Mr Cambridge' to Mary Berry: 'I was about to take up my pen to you to express the pleasure and satisfaction we have just experienced in the perusal of your "Life of Madame du Deffand," which does great credit to your judgement and feeling [goes on to make more detailed comments].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Cambridge Print: Book
'Mr Hope' to Mary Berry: 'Your preface [to her edition of the Letters of Madame du Deffand] I devoured the moment I got it. I have since not [italics]despatched[end italics], but finished your life [of Madame du Deffand], with the highest relish for its ease of style [...] I now feast upon your notes, and a delightful treat they are [...] No matter what, I read all out to Louisa, who owes you the whole of the few moments of enjoyment she feels at this period of anxious expectation'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Hope Print: Book
'Mr Hope' to Mary Berry: 'Your preface [to her edition of the Letters of Madame du Deffand] I devoured the moment I got it. I have since not [italics]despatched[end italics], but finished your life [of Madame du Deffand], with the highest relish for its ease of style [...] I now feast upon your notes, and a delightful treat they are [...] No matter what, I read all out to Louisa, who owes you the whole of the few moments of enjoyment she feels at this period of anxious expectation'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Hope Print: Book
Mary Berry, Journal, Saturday 18 May 1811: 'I went with Joanna Baillie to Hampstead, to remain till Monday. Dined before four, and went out upon the Heath. Sat for above two hours in a delicious fine evening; afterwards read over together "The Two Martius," and criticised them, and likewise some of my other scraps, which I think Joanna liked less than I expected.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry and Joanna Baillie Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, Saturday 18 May 1811: 'I went with Joanna Baillie to Hampstead, to remain till Monday. Dined before four, and went out upon the Heath. Sat for above two hours in a delicious fine evening; afterwards read over together "The Two Martius," and criticised them, and likewise some of my other scraps, which I think Joanna liked less than I expected.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry and Joanna Baillie Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 15 June 1812: 'Called by appointment on Sir G. Beaumont to meet [George] Colman [manager of Haymarket Theatre], and read with him 'The Two Martius.' As Sir George had told him that it was written by a woman, I owned myself to be that woman [...] I read the piece: he stopped me each time where he thought something piquant could be added'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 30 August 1817, from Genoa: 'Mr. Wishaw leaves to-morrow for Florence. I showed him a sketch of the beginning for "The Life of Lady Russell," which he much approved of [...] then during the evening he read to us the list of the MSS. of poor Horner, and some pieces of a journal of Lord Byron's in Switzerland, put down [italics]au coin de son etrange esprit[end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Wishaw Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 12 December 1818: 'I worked all the morning; before dinner I read in my own room to Lady Hardwicke, Lady Charlotte Lindsay, and my sister, what I had written of Lady Russell's Memoir, with which they expressed themselves much pleased.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Mary Berry, Journal, 19 December 1818: 'Sir James Mackintosh in my room this morning; hearing me read over and commenting on my "Memoir of Lady Russell," spoke frankly, seemed pleased, and satisfied me very tolerably with his opinion [...] In the evening he read some of Milton's "Paradise Regained" to us.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mary Berry Manuscript: Unknown
Joanna Baillie to Mary Berry, 24 July 1819: 'Your "Life of Lady Russell," as far as my acquaintance extends, gives general satisfaction [...] I must thank you again for your copy so kindly bestowed upon your unworthy servant [...] I have, indeed, read it with great interest'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Joanna Baillie Print: Book
'Mr Wishaw' to Mary Berry, 14 July 1819: 'On returning from the country I find your kind and acceptable present [Berry's Life of Lady Russell] [...] I have read over the whole with great interest and satisfaction'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Mr Wishaw Print: Book
Joanna Baillie to Mary Berry, 24 April 1828, acknowledging receipt, the previous day, of her copy of Berry's "The Comparative View of Social Life in France and England" (vol.1): 'I have had no opportunity of reading it, part of the introduction excepted, which I liked much. It reads well, being clear and sensible, and happily expressed'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Joanna Baillie Print: Book
Lady Charlotte Lindsay to Mary Berry, 25 April 1828, on vol.1 of Berry's "Comparative View of Social Life in France and England": 'Your book is [italics]quite new[end italics] and perfectly delightful to me [...] I had no idea that I should have derived so much amusement from it [...] it exactly suits the extent of my reading and reasoning powers'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lady Charlotte Lindsay Print: Book
Joanna Baillie to Mary Berry, 9 June 1828: 'I have read your "View of the Social Life, &c.," twice; and it has lost nothing, but rather gained, on the second perusal. The style is clear and scholar-like [...] it is written in a good spirit of liberality and rectitude, and it abounds in excellent observations concisely and cleverly expressed' [goes on to express reservations, among these being that Berry's account of Voltaire's mistress Madame du Chatelet "rather offends as to that delicacy which is expected in the writings of a woman"].
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Joanna Baillie Print: Book
Professor W. Smythe to Mary Berry, [1828]: 'Your book [vol. 1 of "The Comparative View of Social Life in France and England"] quite succeeded with me, giving me a great deal of information that was very entertaining, and that had not reached me before [...] I still observe in it some long sentences, which it would have been very easy for you, I should have thought, to have broken up [...] You have not always remembered that you are writing for an English, not a French public -- where not only men, but men, women, and children, read, when a book is considered worth reading.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Professor W. Smythe Print: Book
Charles Poulett Thomson to Mary Berry, [1828]: 'I return you your book [vol. 1 of "The Comparative View of Social Life in France and England" with many thanks for the instruction and amusement which it has afforded me [...] I hope you have not abandoned your intention of following it up by a second volume.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Poulett Thomson Print: Book
Joanna Baillie to Mary Berry, [1831]: 'I have just read your proof-sheet [of second volume of Berry's "Comparative View of Social Life in France and England"] [goes on to express pleasure at Berry's mentions of herself (Baillie) in the work)]'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Joanna Baillie Print: In proof
Lord Francis Jeffrey to Mary Berry, 22 April 1842 ('Friday Evening'): 'I have just been reading over your admirable letter for a third time, and, after nourishing the meditations to which it led by gazing for half-an-hour on the long waves which come glittering in the moonlight to the beach below my windows [...] find that I cannot lay myself down with a quiet conscience till I have thanked you for the pleasure it has given, [italics]and the good it has done me[end italics].'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Lord Francis Jeffrey Manuscript: Letter
'I am reading again Madame du Deffand. God forbid I should be as much in love with anybody (yourself excepted) as the poor woman was with Horace Walpole!'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
'I thank you very much for the entertainment I have received from your book. I should however have been afraid to marry such a woman as Lady Rachel; it would have been too awful. There are pieces of china very fine and beautiful, but never intended for daily use'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
'I think Miss Berry's introduction of matter so offensive to the living very injudicious and blameable. You may be right perhaps in calling her preface dull and stupid but I doubt it is hypocritical - because I do not think there is any hypocrisy in her'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Sydney Smith Print: Book
'I read several chapters of Miss Berry's work, a Comparative View of the English and French Nations, since the time of Charles II to the present day. I think this work a most sterling performance, and one, from the nature of its subject, as well as the grave and masterly way in which she treats it, likely to do honour to her memory. I hear Miss Berry has been reproached with its being too grave; but I think the sober chastened style in which it is written suits the dignity of the matter. A lighter pen might have found [italics] de quoi [end italics] to have made a continuation of that most amusing and immoral work, the Memoires de Grammont; but where a deeper tone of thought induces a higher aim than mere wit and entertainment, surely she has chosen more appropriate means to attain her object'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Charlotte Bury Print: Book
