Thomas Beddoes to Maria Thompson, [?May 1803], 11
---- Oh yes Delphine. I find I am not quite callous. I did not think any person was now living, capable of writing half such a book. What talent in rendering sentiment! inferior to none but Shakspeare. What delicacy of touch! equal to Sterne. What copiousness! equal to Richardson. What happiness in pourtraying character. What variety! Above Fielding. Vive Delphine.
Little Anna desires her love to ----. Little Anna is not the wretched being she was when you were here. She runs, wild of wing, from room to room; understands every thing, says nothing, laughs at every joke, dances to every tune, conveys her opinions most decidedly by pantomime, as, to day, when I asked her whether she would have pudding or pye. I think by the way, it will often happen that the most intelligent children will be longest in talking. They can do without words.
Published: Stock, p. 295