My dear Doctor

A good chearful & affectionate daughter is the greatest blessing a man can have after a good wife.— if I could have given such a wife to Charles without parting with a daughter there would be no drawback from my entire satisfaction in bestowing Emma upon him— You lately gave up a daughter—it is my turn now— At our time of life our happiness must be in a great measure reflected from our families, and I think there are few fathers who have on the whole more cause to be satisfied with the conduct & present circumstances & future prospects of our families.— I could have parted with Emma to no one for whom I could so soon & so entirely feel as a father & I am happy in believing that Charles entertains the kindest feelings for his uncle-father.

I propose to do for Emma what I did for Charlotte & for three of my sons—give a bond for £5000 & to allow her £400 a year as long as my income will supply it which I have no reason for thinking will not be as long as I live.¹

Give my love to your fireside and believe me | Affectionately yours | Josiah Wedgwood My dear Uncle

I have begged a bit of Papa’s letter to thank you from my heart for the delightful way in which you have received me into your family & to thank my dear Marianne & Susan for their affectionate notes which gave me the greatest pleasure. One of the things that give me most happiness is Charles’s thorough affection & value for Papa. I am my dear Uncle yours affectionately | Emma W.

You will be glad to hear that Mamma has quite got over her disappointment about Miss Martineau & amuses herself a good deal in planning about houses cake &c.